Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
After revealing herself to Cinder, Criss has put herself in danger. Locked away in a satellite, with no one to talk to other than "Little Cress," Cress has taken it upon herself to be a guardian of Earth. Although she has been instructed to report back to Levanna, through Lady Sybil, Cress has decided that she will protect Cinder and her crew. However, after taking a look at Thorne, Cress has taken an interest in this wanted criminal and is slowly developing feelings for him. When Cinder contacts Cress, they have decided that the best way to take down Levanna is with Cress, which means, they are on their way to rescue her. Excited, and nervous, Cress is ready to venture out on her own. What was supposed to be an easy rescue, turns awry when Lady Sybil shows up unexpectedly, which leads to disaster: Cress and Thorne are trapped in the satellite that is careening straight for Earth and Scarlet has been kidnapped by Sybil. With no way to communicate with the Rampion, Thorne and Sybil must face the Saharan Desert on their own while Cinder is trying to save a badly injured Wolf. Luckily, Cinder has decided to seek out Dr. Erland, who is in Africa, who not only has some even more devastating new, but is about to be reunited with someone he had lost long, long ago. On the other side of the planet, Kai is struggling with his decision to marry Levanna, but is desperately trying to keep her from destroying the Earth. However, with the new information he has in regards to Cinder and the Princess Selene, his feelings for Cinder are multiplying especially when he realizes that she isn't the monster her stepmother made her out to be in. In fact, Kai also learns that Cinder is immune to Leutomosis and that the antidote Levanna gave him is actually the cure they have been waiting for. Lastly, now that Scarlet is Lunar custody, she is trying to escape but is unable to fight their "powers." Fearing that she may never escape, Scarlet yearns for her grandmother and Wolfe, but then Scarlet does something that will change her fate forever.

Critical Evaluation:
Honestly, Marissa Meyer is so unbelievably awesome and is on her way to greatness. I cannot express how awesome and uplifting it is to read, and go on an adventure, with insanely powerful young ladies. Contrary to the "damsel in distress" that we are all accustomed to, Meyer's fairy tale heroines are smart, funny, quirkly, vulnerable, and down right adorable (especially Cress). In this installment, readers are getting to know the young lady who has been trapped in her satellite for many years and they will just fall in love with her. Could it be her naivety? Her innocence? Or could it be the fact that she is probably one of the most empathetic person we have come across? Cress may be a "shell" but her heart is so big that there is no way she was destined for a lifetime in a satellite. In fact, there is something about Cress that threatens Levanna so, by losing her, and Cinder, the holes in her plans are getting bigger and bigger. What I love most about these books is that all even though all of the young ladies have their "handsome prince," but, in reality, the ones who have needed the saving have been Kai, Wolf, and Thorne. Who would have thought!? In this day and age, women are taking on bigger, and larger roles, where it's about time they are being recognized for their abilities and Meyer provides young teens girls with amazing examples. I may not be a mother, yet, but I love to mother the teenagers I work with so I highly approve of this series because it is really meant for young people (in general). Now, I am not saying that the young men in this story are weak (quite the contrary), but they have met their matches in these young ladies, which is not only attractive, but worth fighting for. At the end of the day, all of them are fighting for one thing, which is freedom from Levanna and the desire to be happy and loved. I am SOOOOO anxious about the final installment and I am ready for any twists and turns that Marissa Meyer may have designed because, DARN IT, the woman can WRITE!

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

One of my first spoken words was “story” (right along with “bath” and “cookie”), my favorite toy as an infant was a soft, squishable book, and I’ve wanted to be a writer since I first realized such a job existed.

When I was fourteen my best friend introduced me to anime and fanfiction—over the years I would complete over forty Sailor Moon fanfics under the penname Alicia Blade. Those so inclined can still find my first stories at fanfiction.net. Writing fanfic turned out to be awesome fun and brought me in contact with an amazing group of fanfiction readers and writers. As Alicia Blade, I also had a novelette, “The Phantom of Linkshire Manor,” published in the gothic romance anthology Bound in Skin (CatsCurious Press, 2007).

When I was sixteen I worked at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Tacoma, Washington, affectionately termed “The Spag.” (Random factoid: This is also the restaurant where my parents met some 25 years before.) I attended Pacific Lutheran University where I sorted mail that came to the dorm, carted tables and chairs around campus, and took writing classes, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Children’s Literature. Knowing I wanted a career in books, I would also go on to receive a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University (which you can learn more about here). After graduation, I worked as an editor in Seattle for a while before becoming a freelance typesetter and proofreader.
Then, day of days, someone thought it would be a good idea to give me a book deal, so I became a full-time writer. CINDER is my first novel, though I have an adorable collection of unfinished ones lying around too.

I now live with my husband and our three cats (Calexandria Josephine, Stormus Enormous, and Blackland Rockwell III), who go in and out, in and out, about eight hundred times a day. My favorite non-bookish things include Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, re-watching episodes of Firefly, and playing all manners of dress-up.

Genre:
Teen Sci-Fi, Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Cress:

• Towering by Alex Flinn
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

"Once again, Meyer offers up a science fiction fantasy page-turner that salutes women’s intelligence and empowerment . . . Old and new romances, unfinished story lines, and the prognostication of wartime horrors all pave the way for Meyer’s much anticipated next installment, Winter, expected in 2015." - Booklist "This multilayered, action-packed page-turner is sure to please series fans." - The Horn Book  

Plot Summary:
For the last two weeks, Scarlet has been looking for her grandmother who disappeared, leaving no note or explanation. Unfortunately, Scarlet's leads have run out and the police have closed the missing person's case because there was no evidence of foul play. In other words, the police have told Scarlet that her grandmother just left town and there us nothing they could do. For Scarlet, she know her grandmother would never do such a thing because she loved her home, her farm, and she loved her. While delivering a load of groceries to the local pub, Scarlet meets a fighter who is not only new to town, but there is something about his eyes and his tattoo that she can't quite figure out. Granted, this fighter (named Wolf) is as good as he says, but when she discovers that he is a part of a violent "wolf" pack she doesn't know if she can trust him. However, he is the only who can help her find her grandmother and she reluctantly goes with him to look for her in Paris. Meanwhile, Cinder has broken out of prison, only to gain an unwanted sidekick named Captain Thorne (thief and deserter). Although Cinder has no desire to form a relationship with this handsome, smooth-talking, criminal, she needs his stolen spaceship to track down her past and ultimately help her find out who she is. With Cinder on the loose, Emperor Kai is still reeling from all that has happened in the last few days and is trying desperately to let go of his feelings for Cinder. However, with Levana threatening him with violence, he must make Cinder disappear or a lot of people will die. In this sequel, there is a lot of action and excitement that will not only bring all of the characters together, but help them form an alliance that will prepare them for the imminent battle with the Lunar Kingdom. The ending will readers begging for more. 

Critical Evaluation:
Wow! All I can say is "WOW!" It's not an unknown fact that sequels aren't as strong as the first story, but this one is even better than the first! Not only do we meet Scarlet, Wolf, and Thorne, readers will start putting all of the puzzle pieces together and will yearn for more. I really didn't know what to expect from this story and I am very happy with the non-stop twists and turns. For the lack of a better term, this series is episodic so readers are anticipating other stories that will ultimately lead back to finding Princess Selene. In this episode/story/installment, Scarlet represents "Little Red Riding Hood" who not only packs a punch (like Cinder), but it willing to risk everything to find her grandmother, which leads to another interesting discovery that she is part Lunar. What I loved even more is that Kai, who refused to believe that Lunars lived amongst them, admitted their existence to only learn that he has been surrounded by one for years and is in love with one. Although the point of views switch, readers don't get lost because everything comes back full circle, which is why some books (i.e., Allegiant) falter; granted, all of these stories are told from an outside perspective, readers have a better sense of what's going on instead if trying to figure out who is speaking. The relationship between Scarlet and Wolf (in my opinion) is incredibly enticing. Not only will readers (male and female) be drawn to their personalities, but their developing romance is inevitable; they really do need each other because Wolf needs Scarlet to protect and Scarlet helps Wolf keep the monster (inside him) in control. I will say that I am liking this romance a little more than Kai's and Cinder's, but that has yet to develop so I am looking forward to that.  I am really, really, really pleased with story and will be moving onto Cress ASAP!

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

One of my first spoken words was “story” (right along with “bath” and “cookie”), my favorite toy as an infant was a soft, squishable book, and I’ve wanted to be a writer since I first realized such a job existed.

When I was fourteen my best friend introduced me to anime and fanfiction—over the years I would complete over forty Sailor Moon fanfics under the penname Alicia Blade. Those so inclined can still find my first stories at fanfiction.net. Writing fanfic turned out to be awesome fun and brought me in contact with an amazing group of fanfiction readers and writers. As Alicia Blade, I also had a novelette, “The Phantom of Linkshire Manor,” published in the gothic romance anthology Bound in Skin (CatsCurious Press, 2007).

When I was sixteen I worked at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Tacoma, Washington, affectionately termed “The Spag.” (Random factoid: This is also the restaurant where my parents met some 25 years before.) I attended Pacific Lutheran University where I sorted mail that came to the dorm, carted tables and chairs around campus, and took writing classes, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Children’s Literature. Knowing I wanted a career in books, I would also go on to receive a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University (which you can learn more about here). After graduation, I worked as an editor in Seattle for a while before becoming a freelance typesetter and proofreader.
Then, day of days, someone thought it would be a good idea to give me a book deal, so I became a full-time writer. CINDER is my first novel, though I have an adorable collection of unfinished ones lying around too.

I now live with my husband and our three cats (Calexandria Josephine, Stormus Enormous, and Blackland Rockwell III), who go in and out, in and out, about eight hundred times a day. My favorite non-bookish things include Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, re-watching episodes of Firefly, and playing all manners of dress-up.

Genre:
Teen Sci Fi, Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Scarlet:

• Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
• City of Bones by Cassandra Claire

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

* "A great choice for all ages, with strong appeal for both girls and boys, these novels will be read and enjoyed—repeatedly." —VOYA, starred review

* "It’s another Marissa Meyer roller coaster ride, part science fiction/fantasy, part political machination with a hint of romance. Readers will be pushed into a horrific alternate universe where violence, especially mind manipulation and control, create ethical and life-threatening situations for both teens. With at least one more Lunar Chronicle to come, the suspense continues. And which fairy tale will Meyer morph next?" —Booklist, starred review *

"Returning fans of Meyer’s Cinder will gladly sink their teeth into this ambitious, wholly satisfying sequel." —Publishers Weekly, starred review "The author has stepped up the intrigue and plot from the first novel, and readers will be eagerly awaiting the next." —School Library Journal

"Further development of this futuristic world plus plenty of action, surprises, and a fast pace will keep readers invested in their journey." —The Horn Book

 "The sci-fi elements are stronger than the fairy-tale allusions this time out, but the story remains just as absorbing. . . . Readers will be thrilled to discover that this steampunky fairy-tale/sci-fi mashup promises two more installments." —BCCB

Plot Summary:
When Mia and her family decided to make the best of their "Snow Day," they all jumped into the car to visit friends and family. What was so supposed to be a family adventure filled with laughter and joy, Mia and her  family are involved in an accident that leaves her comatose. Although Mia is barely alive, her spirit hovers over her body and all of the people in her life. Before the accident, life seemed to be going good; Mia was waiting on a response from Julliard (a prestigious school for musicians) and her boyfriend's band was taking off. Although Mia seemed okay on the outside, she was struggling with the distance between her and her best friend and she wasn't sure if her relationship with Adam was going to make it. Despite these fears, Mia was having the typical growing pains that all teens have when they are about to go off on their own. However, the accident not only ripped Mia of her body, but it took away their very people who mattered the most to her. As she floats between this plane and the other, Mia looks back on her life and remembers all of wonderful details about her life, her parents, her little brother, and her grandparents. Knowing that she will never be able to be with her mother and father prevents her from returning to her body (even as she watches her grandparents and extended family) Mia realizes that she is in control of her situation. Mia is trying desperately to make a choice, but she doesn't know how and that is terrifying because she wants to be with Adam and her brother. More importantly, Mia can't imagine her life without her parents, she also can't live without Adam. This is a tragic story of a girl who has to make a very difficult choice of staying with people who still love her and letting go of those who gave her life and unending happiness.   

Critical Evaluation:
I probably shouldn't be reading, and listening, to two very similar stories at the same time (not sitting well with my emotions). This story is so beautifully written it's like a song that takes listeners on a journey to an unknown destination; readers can feel the pain, the loss, the regret, the hopelessness, but the amazing amount of empathy and revelation. One can only imagine what Mia could be going through and to have to make a choice that would leave her without her parents and brother. No one should ever have to suffer from this dilemma and it's totally unfair that Mia has to make the decision. I realize, as an adult, that life isn't fair, but COME ON! This is just cruel! I have yet to meet someone who has survived a near-death experience, but a part of me wonders what's it like to see your life from the outside. For Mia. she sees herself and yet she decides to witness her position from the sidelines. In many ways, Mia seems to be testing not just her family, but Adam and Kim as well. Mia has always had this lingering feeling that she never belonged given the fact that her parents were punk rockers and she's a classical musician. With Adam, the only thing they really have in common, is music, but on the opposite sides of the spectrum. As for her relationship with Kim, which started off the wrong way, their differences are what brought them together. The sad thing is that Mia misses the point that opposites really do attract and, rather than celebrating those difference, she saw it as a obstacle between her, her parents, her boyfriend, and her best friend. I think the hardest part of this story is that if we, as readers, decide to put ourselves in Mia's position not only will be just as devastated as she is, but will we be unable to dig up the courage to make the choice that she does.If you pair the ending of the book with Yo-Yo Ma's Andante con moto e molto rubato, everything will come crashing together and the tears will flow. Brilliant move from a brilliant writer.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a journalist who specialized in reporting on young people and social-justice issues. Which is a fancy way of saying I reported on all the ways that young people get treated like crap—and overcome! I started out working for Seventeen magazine, writing the kinds of articles that people (i.e. adults) never believe that Seventeen ran (on everything from child soldiers in Sierra Leone to migrant teen farm workers in the U.S.). Later on, I became a freelance journalist, writing for magazines like Details, Jane, Glamour, The Nation, Elle, Budget Travel, and Cosmopolitan.

In 2002, I went traveling for a year around the world with my husband, Nick. I spent time hanging out with some pretty interesting people, a third sex (we’d probably call them transvestites here) in Tonga, Tolkien-obsessed, role-playing punks in Kazakhstan (bonus points to those of you who can find Kazakhstan on a map), working class hip-hop stars in Tanzania. The result of that year was my first book, a travel memoir called You Can’t Get There From Here: A Year On the Fringes of a Shrinking World. You can read about my trip and see pictures of it here.

What do you do when you get back home after traveling the globe for a whole year? First, you get disproportionately excited by the little comforts in life: Not having to look at a map to get everywhere? Yay! Being able to drink coffee without getting dressed and schlepping to a café first? Bliss! Then, if you’re 32 years old and have been with your husband for evah, you have a kid. Which we did. Presto, Willa!

So, there I was. With a baby. And all of a sudden I couldn’t do the kind of gallivanty reporting I’d done before. Well, you know how they say in life when one door closes another opens? In my case, the door came clear off the frame. Because I discovered that I could take the most amazing journeys of my life without ever having to leave my desk. It was all in my head. In stories I could make up. And the people I wanted to take these fantastical journeys with, they all happened to be between the ages of 12 and 20. I don’t know why. These are just the people who beckon me. And I go where I’m told.

My first young-adult novel, Sisters in Sanity, was based on another one of those social justice articles I wrote when for Seventeen and you can click here to read the article. Sisters was published in 2007. My next book, If I Stay, was published in April of  2009 by Dutton. It is also being published in 30 countries around the world, which is surreal. The sequel/companion book to If I Stay, Where She Went, comes out in April 2011. I  am currently working on a new YA novel, that is, when my kids (plural, after Willa we adopted Denbele from Ethiopia) allow me to. And after that book is finished, I’ll write another, and another….

Genre:
Teen Issues, Teen Contemporary Fiction


Reading Level/Interest:Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to If I Stay:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Deadline by Chris Crutcher 

Awards & Recognition:

• Starred Review from Publisher's Weekly
• Starred Review from School Library Journal
• Starred Review from Booklist

Plot Summary:
Cinder knows what it's like to be an outcast thanks to the daily reminders from her stepmother, Adri, and stepsister, Pearl. The reason why Cinder is an outcast is not just because of her poor status, but she's a cyborg. Although she may not posses the fancy clothing and comforts like her adopted family, Cinder is good with her hands and can repair any mechanical object out there. In fact, she is so well known for her skills, Prince Kai brings his old android to her for repairs under the guise that his royal mechanics didn't have the abilities to fix it. Granted, Cinder can tell is someone is lying, she agrees to the Prince's demands because how can she refuse? Meanwhile, as everyone get ready for the Ball, Cinder is hoping her stepmother would allow her to attend as long as she completes her "chores." What should have been a simple fix, turned deadly when her stepsister, Peony, whom she loves and adores, follows her to the junkyard and contracts Letumosis (Earth's deadliest plague since the Bubonic Plague). In an effort to rid herself of Cinder, Adri volunteers Cinder for plague research and she is whisked away against her will. When Cinder meets Dr. Dimitri Erland, she notices that there is something very different about this man. What should have been her destruction, Cinder learns something so shocking and unbelievable, it changes everything she has known about her family and herself. Amidst this discovery, the Emperor has died from Letumosis, and the Lunar Queen, Levana, has decided to move in swiftly to forge an alliance that Prince Kai is against, but, if something isn't done, Earth may no longer be at peace with the Lunar Kingdom.As for Cinder, she finds herself caught between her feelings and her reality, which have not only caught the attention of Levana, but may find herself in serious danger.

Critical Evaluation:
I absolutely loved how fast-paced, and creative, this story is! Not only is it an ingenious ides to take a classic fairy-tale and turn it into a Sci-Fi, it gives readers another perspective on the meaning of the tale. Cinderella, as we all know, had been enslaved by her stepmother and the only was she could be rescued is through the help of her fairy godmother, a beautiful dress, glass slippers, and a handsome prince. Granted, everyone has heard a million different versions of this story, this take on the "damsel in distress" is quite the opposite because this damsel must rescue her Prince and their people. Cinder may be slave, like Cinderella, but, after her involuntary testing, her fate is in her own hands because no one expected her to survive, which kind of threw a wrench in everything. Another nice spin on the tale is that Peony, who not only adores her, but is relying on her to save her; Cinder may have carried a variety of responsibilities before, but saving Peony's life forces Cinder to do things she may have never wanted to do before (i.e., agree to continue the plague testing in order to find a cure and searching for the lost Princess). Although Cinder finds an ally in Dr. Erland, there is something about him she can't quite figure out (he has an uncanny ability of lying) and Prince Kai has actually taken an interest in her, but pushes him away because she fears that he might reject her because she is a cyborg. Despite the impending doom on mankind, I just love that this story still identifies the fact that Cinder is a teenager who is trying so hard to find her place in this world while dealing with issues like love and acceptance. Clearly, Cinder has a lot on her shoulders and, unfortunately, she is going to have to figure it out on her own with a little help from Iko (the family droid), Prince Kai, and Dr. Erland. This is a high-energy, fast-paced race to save the world from a tyrant and to help a cyborg regain her memories and finally find her place in this universe.     

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

One of my first spoken words was “story” (right along with “bath” and “cookie”), my favorite toy as an infant was a soft, squishable book, and I’ve wanted to be a writer since I first realized such a job existed.

When I was fourteen my best friend introduced me to anime and fanfiction—over the years I would complete over forty Sailor Moon fanfics under the penname Alicia Blade. Those so inclined can still find my first stories at fanfiction.net. Writing fanfic turned out to be awesome fun and brought me in contact with an amazing group of fanfiction readers and writers. As Alicia Blade, I also had a novelette, “The Phantom of Linkshire Manor,” published in the gothic romance anthology Bound in Skin (CatsCurious Press, 2007).

When I was sixteen I worked at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Tacoma, Washington, affectionately termed “The Spag.” (Random factoid: This is also the restaurant where my parents met some 25 years before.) I attended Pacific Lutheran University where I sorted mail that came to the dorm, carted tables and chairs around campus, and took writing classes, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Children’s Literature. Knowing I wanted a career in books, I would also go on to receive a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University (which you can learn more about here). After graduation, I worked as an editor in Seattle for a while before becoming a freelance typesetter and proofreader.

Then, day of days, someone thought it would be a good idea to give me a book deal, so I became a full-time writer. CINDER is my first novel, though I have an adorable collection of unfinished ones lying around too.

I now live with my husband and our three cats (Calexandria Josephine, Stormus Enormous, and Blackland Rockwell III), who go in and out, in and out, about eight hundred times a day. My favorite non-bookish things include Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, re-watching episodes of Firefly, and playing all manners of dress-up.

Genre:
Teen Sci Fi, Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 8 & up

Books Similar to Cinder:

• Beastly by Alex Flinn
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

Plot Summary:
When Bruno came home, he finds Maria packing his things. Not knowing why the maid is going through his personal belongings, his mother said that they are leaving Berlin because his father has been promoted and they must move. Bruno is not happy about leaving because all of his friends and grandparents are in Berlin. Unfortunately, Bruno cannot change his father's mind and, when they arrive at the new house, it is far from what he is used to. In fact, this place is nicknamed "Out-With" because the last person who occupied this house was "out with" everything else. While unpacking this things, Bruno notices (outside his windows) a large open area with small buildings, huts, and people. When Bruno shows Gretel, his incorrigible sister, they noticed that there are children in there as well. However, Gretel refuses to play with them because they are dirty and they are wearing nothing but striped pajamas. Since Bruno is unable to find a playmate, he finds ways to entertain himself, which tend to get him in to trouble. Despite a few scrapes and scratches, Bruno decides to explore the grounds and the fence, which is strictly forbidden. When he arrives, he sees a boy named Shmuel who just happens the be the same age as Bruno. Although they don't understand why there is a fence between them, both of them have decided to be friends. As time goes by, Bruno and Shmuel get to know one another and Bruno has accepted the fact that he won't be going back to Berlin, which is okay because he has Shmuel. However, when Bruno's mother decides it's time to go back, Bruno must say goodbye, but not without one more adventure, which leads to tragedy.   

Critical Evaluation:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a moving story of two young boys who are untouched by the evils of the world. Although Bruno is much more sheltered than Schmuel, Schmuel looks beyond the fact that his father is the camp Commandant and accepts Bruno for who he is. I think what Schmuel has a hard time understanding is Bruno's kindness because he hasn't seen that in a long time and the fact that a German would want to befriend a Jew. The most prevalent theme in this story is that ignorance doesn't always mean bliss. Bruno demands that people explain to him why he is on side of the fence and Schmuel is on the other side, but no one will. Bruno is literally untouched by the hate that walks in and out of his house daily that he couldn't fathom what was really going on in the camp. Is it possible that if someone actually told him why the Jews are behind fences, would it have changed the outcome? Maybe not because Bruno can't stand the soldiers, nor can he stand "The Fury."  Boyne does an amazing job conveying to readers how precious innocence is because Bruno can't even pronounce "Auschwitz" and "The Fuhrer" properly no matter how many times he is corrected. As for Schmuel, who is the opposite of Bruno, has seen the hate and it is slowly starting to show, especially when he tells Bruno he could never like his father because he is a soldier. Although the ending is totally unexpected, the culprits for this tragedy lies solely on the shoulders of the adults who refuse to love one another despite their differences. Although this story is unbelievably heart-wrenching, it's also a tale of friendship that will last for all time.

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

I was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1971, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and creative writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, where I was awarded the Curtis Brown prize.

My early writing consisted mostly of short stories and the first one I published, The Entertainments Jar, was shortlisted for the Hennessy Literary Award in Ireland. Many of my stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies.

I’ve published 8 novels for adults and four for younger readers, including The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas which was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was made into a Miramax feature film. It has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide.

My novels are published in 47 languages.

Genre:
Tween Historical Fiction, Tween War Stories

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 7 & up

Books Similar to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas:

• The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

"Certain to be one of the publishing sensations of 2006." -The Observer (U.K.)

"A memorable and moving story." -The Oxford Times (U.K.)

"A small wonder of a book." -The Guardian (U.K.)

"A book so simple, so seemingly effortless, that it's almost perfect." -The Irish Independent"An extraordinary book." -The Irish Examiner

Plot Summary:
It's 1933, and Adolf Hitler has been appointed chancellor of the Third Reich. For Helmuth Guddat, he isn't sure how he feels about this man because he has made many promises to help Germany recover from the devastation of World War 1. Mutti (his mother) feels optimistic about it, but his Oma and Opa (his grandparents) feel differently, which leaves him conflicted. As time progresses, Helmuth starts to notice the subtle changes and it worries him. First of all, Mutti has started dating a man named Hugo, a Nazi. Secondly, Hugo replaces his mother's old radio with a government radio that is non-stop propaganda. Although these changes may seem minor, the economy is taking off and everyone has something to eat so things are getting better. Sadly, Helmuth witnesses the power and the horror of the Nazi party when the party started targeting Jewish businesses and the Jewish people. For Helmuth, he wants nothing to do with Nazis, but, when he is forced to join the Hitler Youth, he quickly learns that he has to keep his opinions to himself and tell his teacher, and leaders, what they want to hear. What was supposed to be an era of peace and prosperity, Hitler has declared war on Europe. For Helmuth, he has no idea what's going on other than what the government is telling him, which angers him. What makes him even angrier, is that Gerhard, his brother, has been drafted and he knows his brother can't stand the Nazis and is only doing it for his country. When Gerhard returns from boot camp with a short wave radio he bought of the Black Market, he asks Helmuth to not turn it on since there is a law banning citizens from listening to foreign program; it's against the law to listen to foreign news, but Helmuth is tired of the Nazis so he breaks his promise to Gerhard. Not only are the Nazis censoring news, and fabricating reports, the prosperity they once had is no longer where they are being forced to pay for war they didn't want. For Helmuth, the only way he is going to bring down the Nazis is to speak the truth, which is not only dangerous, but punishable by death.

Critical Evaluation:
Based on the true story of Helmuth Hubener, Susan Campbell Bartoletti crafts a beautiful tale about a life that was cut short for all of the wrong reasons. In this narrative, readers can already tell what kind of young man Helmuth was and that everything he did was for the greater good. Honestly, I have heard of the Hitler Youth, but I was totally unaware of this young man's courage and sacrifice. Adolph Hitler was a monster and the Nazi party carried out his atrocities without questioning him. Hitler managed to master the craft of indoctrination where he literally duped an entire nation with promises of peace and prosperity only to carry out his personal agenda and vendetta against the Jews. For Helmuth, his faith and his love for his brother is what gave him the courage to speak out against the Nazis because he and his fellow countrymen had a right to know what their government has been plotting and the ramifications of their decisions. I am humbled and amazed by the courage of Helmuth Hubener because he did the one thing that his elders could not do. What I appreciate the most about this story is that Bartoletti gave a voice to Helmuth's fear, hatred, and sadness before his execution. No on really knows what was going through his head before his death, but the author gave him the last word, which was awesome. Moreover, Bartoletti drives home the very notion that Helmuth's advantage is the fact that no one would suspect a minor to make all those pamphlets, but, in the end, his execution was a wake-up call for everyone: don't underestimate the will and the intelligence of a teenager who has something to say. Although Helmuth died so young, his sacrifice will outshine the darkness that plagues the German people (aka. Hitler). This is a very compelling tale that readers will have a difficult time putting down and inspire them to do further research. The author's note is amazing, which readers will want to read and there are pictures of Helmuth, his brothers, and best friends. 

Information about the Author:
 According to her website:

Although I have always loved to read, I had no idea I was going to be a writer when I grew up. In school, I liked art class best. In college, I filled my schedule with literature classes. I took a creative writing class where I wrote short stories and poetry for the first time. I interned as a journalist at a local newspaper. These experiences fueled a desire to write my own stories.

 But within days of graduation, I was offered a job teaching eighth-grade English, and I accepted. I never thought I’d stay, but I did. For the next eighteen years, I taught eighth grade.

When I left the classroom, I returned to school as a full-time doctoral student on a full fellowship. I earned a Ph.D. in English from Binghamton University (State University, New York), where I won the Excellence in Research award for my doctoral dissertation. I also hold an M.A. in English from the University of Scranton (Pennsylvania) and a B.A. in English/Secondary Education from Marywood University (Scranton, Pennsylvania). I live with my husband near Scranton, Pennsylvania. We have two grown children, three grandchildren, two dogs (Shih Tzus), and a seventeen-year-old cat.

I am often asked where I found the time to write, while teaching full-time and raising a family. My answer is this: We make the time to do the things we really want to do. Weekdays, I wrote in the early morning hours, from 4-7 am, while my children were sleeping, and longer on weekends.

Genre:
Tween War Stories, Tween Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 7 & up

Books Similar to The Boy Who Dared:

• Daniel Half Human: and the Good Nazi by David Chotjewitz
• The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas: a Fable by John Boyne

Awards & Recognition:From Amazon.com:

• Starred Review from Booklist
• Positive Review from School Library Journal
• Positive Review from Publisher's Weekly
  

Plot Summary:
After returning from the war in Afghanistan, Travis is not happy about returning home. Not only does the civilian life terrify him, but he is haunted by the fact that his best friend, Charlie, was killed and he feels responsible. However, what should have been a time of recuperation and relaxation ended up being another battle he wasn't ready for. First of all, his brother, Ryan, not only took stole his girlfriend, Paige, he also has his car and his friends. In many ways, Ryan seems to take whatever Travis has because their father (a former NFL player) practically forced Travis to become a football play so he follow in his footsteps. However, all that attention turned to loathing because Travis had had enough and his father never forgave him. In fact, he joined the Marine Corps because he didn't want to go to college and he didn't want to be home either. Although his deployment was about him, he didn't realize the strain it put on their parents' marriage, which is why their are splitting up. His homecoming wasn't his idea (his commanding officer told him to take extra time to "get it together" after Charlie's death), this extra time off forces Travis to re-live the terrible memories and there are times where he actually sees Charlie wherever he goes. Travis didn't expect his return to be easy, he didn't count on Harper and her right hook. Travis' spirit may be broken, but, with a little patience, and a lot of love, he could actually find the right kind of "normal" he may need to heal and move on.

Critical Evaluation:
Trish Doller packs so much into this tiny book that I could not put this book down. This story is an amazing portrayal of the very issues that are plaguing young soldiers, especially when it comes to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and loss. I think what breaks my heart is that when these soldiers return home, they are expected to re-integrate into civilian life without a hitch, but that is rarely the truth. Travis' mom does what she can to make his homecoming special, but Travis is plagued with so much guilt and shame that it only adds insult to injury. I think what this story points out is that these men and women don't feel like heroes after what they have been through and would prefer to be treated like everyone else. As for the reintegration aspect, it sounds a lot easier than it is because some return so broken that their nightmares become reality. For Travis, his PTSD, which we don't learn about to later in the story, is literally tearing him apart. He doesn't want to talk about his tour and that puts a huge strain on the relationships he previously had. Not to mention, his family is falling apart and his own betrayed him for pathetic reasons so no wonder his condition is exacerbated. However, Harper, the girl whose reputation he destroys, provides him with the distraction and the opportunity to let of the past and move on with the future. Although this is an unconventional love story, this is a story of many service men and women who not only put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, but caught be tween two worlds where "normal" takes on a whole new meaning.


Information about the Author:
According to her website:

I've been a writer as long as I've been able to write, but I didn't make a conscious decision to "be" a writer until fairly recently. For that you should probably be thankful.

I was born in Germany, grew up in Ohio, went to college at Ohio State University, got married to someone really excellent, bounced from Maine to Michigan and back to Ohio for awhile. Now I live in Florida with my two mostly grown kids, two dogs, and a pirate. For real.

I've worked as a morning radio personality, a newspaper reporter, and spent all my summers in college working at an amusement park. There I gained valuable life skills, including counting money really fast, directing traffic, jumping off a moving train, and making cheese-on-a-stick. Also, I can still welcome you to Frontier Town. Ask me sometime.​

Genre:
Teen War Stories, Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Something Like Normal:

•  Falling Angels by Walter Dead Myers
• The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
  

Awards & Recognition:

• Positive review from Kirkus
• Positive review from Publisher's Weekly
• Positive review from School Library Journal
• Positive review from Voice of Youth Advocates

Plot Summary:

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:
Quentin has been in love with Margo ever since she stumbled into his bedroom window dressed in black as if she were a ninja. Although Margo is in another social class (popular), he never stopped admiring her, which only escalates when she stumbled into his room, again, many years later. Margo is a free spirit, but also a force to be reckoned with. When Margo's boyfriend is caught cheating, Margo not only makes her boyfriend and backstabbing friend existence a living nightmare, she takes Quentin on a journey of revenge like none other. In fact, this adventure not only involved illegal breaking and entering, it also included a night time jaunt to the city's biggest skyscraper and Sea World. Quentin did not realize the courage and the audacity that makes Margo who she is and that not only makes her much more attractive, but a mystery.  After returning from what seemed like a crazy dream, Quentin believed that Margo would actually acknowledge him, but when she didn't return to school, Quentin knew something was up. Little does he realize, but Margo is the reason why the school bully stayed away from him, and his friends, but Margo is the one who instills courage in him, which allows him to stand up to the bully for the first time in his life. With a renewed sense of purpose, and confidence, Quentin learns that Margo, for some reason, has a habit of running away and, unfortunately, this is the last time her parents will put up with her behavior. According to Quentin's parents, who are are therapists, they believe that Margo is just acting out and seeking attention. Sadly, Margo's parents have had enough and they informed Quentin that Margo is no longer allowed in their home. Although this seems highly unfair, Quentin asks his parents if Margo could stay with them and they would allow it. However, with Margo gone, Quentin must find her in order to make this happen because he doesn't want to lose her again. Little does he realize that Margo wants to be found because she leaves clues just for him, which could easily lead to somewhere magical or utterly terrible.

Critical Evaluation:
 John Green has written yet another prolific tale of misunderstanding, adventure, comedy, angst, and love. In this story, two teens who live next to one another finally come together to create a story all of their own. Although it's a little creepy to begin the book with two kids discovering a dead body, it's the one moment that show them the harshness of life and reality. This gruesome discovery has haunted Quentin for most of his life, but, with that memory, there is the one with Margo decked out as a ninja wanting to know why the man killed himself. This morbid curiosity is not only real amongst teens today, but it's a sign that no matter what we do we cannot shelter our kids no matter where we raise them or how. Quentin, who is the exact opposite of Margo, is a "well-adjusted" teenager because his parents are therapists who don't question his level-head. I think what cracks me up is that Quentin's parents are so involved with their work that they don't even notice their own son's loneliness. All of his life, Quentin has loved Margo for a long and has always kept a vigil for her, hoping that she will see him as more than the boy next door. As for Margo, as I mentioned earlier, is a whirlwind of mystery and intrigue. What makes her that way, one will never know, but one thing that is obvious (to readers) is that she needs Quentin to find her. Granted, they haven't been very close for quite some time, but Quentin is the ones she shares that awful moment when they were younger; therefore, he is the only who understands why she lives her life the way she does. Death is a huge influence in this novel because Margo refuses to let life hold her back and that is why she takes the risks she does. For Quentin, who has lived a rather safe life is starting to see the joy in every moment because all of us could end up like the man from the past. What terrifies Quentin the most is that Margo could end up like the man they found and that is why he must find her. Paper Towns is an amazing story that not only makes the reader think about life, but allows us to reflect on those moments to make the right decisions. 

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

John Green is the New York Times bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars. He is also the coauthor, with David Levithan, of Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He was 2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Green’s books have been published in more than a dozen languages.
In 2007, Green and his brother Hank ceased textual communication and began to talk primarily through videoblogs posted to YouTube. The videos spawned a community of people called nerdfighters who fight for intellectualism and to decrease the overall worldwide level of suck. (Decreasing suck takes many forms: Nerdfighters have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight poverty in the developing world; they also planted thousands of trees around the world in May of 2010 to celebrate Hank’s 30th birthday.) Although they have long since resumed textual communication, John and Hank continue to upload two videos a week to their YouTube channel, vlogbrothers. Their videos have been viewed more than 200 million times, and their channel is one of the most popular in the history of online video. He is also an active Twitter user with more than 1.2 million followers.

Green’s book reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review and Booklist, a wonderful book review journal where he worked as a publishing assistant and production editor while writing Looking for Alaska. Green grew up in Orlando, Florida before attending Indian Springs School and then Kenyon College.

Genre:
Teen Contemporary Fiction


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Paper Towns:

•  Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

A Booklist Best Book of the Year
An SLJ Best Book of the Year
A VOYA Best Book of the Year

“Green’s prose is astounding — from hilarious, hyperintellectual trash talk and shtick, to complex philosophizing, to devastating observation and truths.” –SLJ, starred review

“[Green’s] a superb stylist, with a voice perfectly matched to his amusing, illuminating material.” –Booklist, starred review

“Laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt poignancy.” –Kliatt, starred review

“Green delivers once again with this satisfying, crowd-pleasing look at a complex, smart boy and the way he loves. Genuine—and genuinely funny—dialogue, a satisfyingly tangled but not unbelievable mystery and delightful secondary characters.”
–Kirkus

"Stellar, with deliciously intelligent dialogue and plenty of mind-twisting insights…a powerfully great read." --VOYA 

"Compelling." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Plot Summary:
Sophronia Temminick is not the average girl. Unlike most her age, and time, Sophronia loves taking things a part to see how they work and she craves adventure. However, her mother decided to send her of to Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality because there is no way that Sophronia could ever make a suitable bride when she traipsing about the house and hiding in the dumbwaiter. After being spirited away in a coach, Sophronia meet Dimity and her brother, Pillover. Now why would a boy be off to a school that was meant for young ladies? Secondly, why is the carriage being attacked by Flyaway Men? After wrangling the reins of the carriage from the stunned coachmen, Sophronia manages to save everyone, including Mademoiselle Geraldine, from danger. However, why would a coach filled with young women, and one young man, be attacked by Flyaway Men who are demanding the prototype from Mademoiselle Geraldine? Well, here's the problem:  Mademoiselle Geraldine is really a young lady named Monique (incognito) who is on a secret mission to deliver, and protect, an item (aka. The Prototype) of utmost importance. In fact, this journey takes an even stranger turn when Sophronia and company meet a real-live werewolf who helps them aboard a flying apparatus called a dirigible. When Sophronia finally meets the headmistresses, she learns that Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is really a finishing school, but also trains young women to be intelligencers or assassins; hence, why Dimity refers to Sophronia as a convert recruit. Although this excites Sophronia, these lessons prove even more difficult when she has to learn to curtsy and combat all at the same time. Moreover, she must figure out what the prototype is and why the Flyaway Men want it.

Critical Evaluation:
Etiquette & Espionage is incredibly fun! I absolutely love Sophronia because her quirks and her intelligence just make the story awesome. I will say that this is definitely an original steampunk adventure where young ladies are actually trained to be more that well-mannered ladies. The best part about this story is that Mademoiselle Geraldine has absolutely no idea what's going on her own school, which goes to show that manners and beauty does not replace common sense. As I said earlier, Sophronia is like many of the young ladies that I work with who are not only brilliant, but have a quick whit and the drive, which will help them do great things. Sophronia is criticized and often ridiculed because she likes to take things apart, master the art of dumbwaiters, and takes very little interest in the finer things such as: dancing, curtsying, and manners. With most steampunk stories, the time period is very similar to that of the Victorian era, which is obvious because this is all about a finishing school that teaches girls to be ladies who can wield knives. With that said, upper and middle class girls had no say in their futures and were expected obey and conform to the roles they were born into; hence, why finishing schools were popular. Well, for Sophronia, she is definitely in for a treat since she happens to be the covert recruit where her daily lessons require her to move more than her pinky. Although Sophronia has very little in common with the rest of the girls, she learns that they all possess certain attributes that she grows to admire. In fact, through her lessons, Sophronia can finally be herself where the only ridicule she receives is that of jealousy, especially when it comes to Monique. This is definitely a book for the spirited reader who is looking for the next great adventure.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

New York Times Bestselling author Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She resides in the Colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported from London. Gail's books are published in over a dozen different languages and she recieved the Prix Julia Verlanger from French readers.

The Parasol Protectorate books are:Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, Heartless, and Timeless. Soulless won the ALA's Alex Award and has been turned into a graphic novel. Her young adult Finishing School series begins with Etiquette & Espionage and follows the exploits of Sophronia, a young lady who soon discovers her dreaded lady's seminary is a great deal more than anyone realizes. In the Custard Protocol series, beginning with Prudence, Rue and her crack (or possibly cracked) dirigible crew get into trouble around the Empire on behalf of queen, country, and tea.

Genre:
Teen Steampunk, Teen Adventure


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Etiquette & Espionage:

• Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
• Iron Thorn by Catlin Kittredge

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

"Carriger's YA debut brings her mix of Victorian paranormal steampunk and winning heroines to a whole new audience...with cleverly Victorian methods of espionage, witty banter, lighthearted silliness, and a ship full of intriguingly quirky people."—Booklist (starred review)

* "[A] delightfully madcap espionage adventure..."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

—School Library Journal (starred review)

"Blending intrigue and elements of the school story, Carriger introduces teen readers to a supernatural-meets-steampunk world full of action and wit."—Horn Book

—ShelfAwareness