Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Title: Walk on Earth a Stranger
Author: Rae Carson
Pages: 432
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
ISBN: 9780062242914
Publication Date: September 22, 2015*
AR Levels: TBD
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17564519-walk-on-earth-a-stranger

In a nutshell: After Leah Westfall's parents are brutally murdered, she decides to run from their murderer and follow her friend to California and try her luck in the Gold Rush, but Leah won't need luck to find gold in California. She can sense when gold is near; it sings to her from inside the earth, and this magical talent could mean a rich life for her, but it's also a dangerous secret she must keep. Disguised as a boy, Leah sets off in pursuit of a fresh start, but there's danger at every turn. 

I'd recommend it to grades: 8 and up

I'd recommend it to: historical fiction lovers, students who grew up on Little House books, and those who like survival stories

What I liked most about this book: This is my first Rae Carson book, and boy, did I love it. As a child of the 90s, I grew up on the Oregon Trail (well, not literally...I grew up on the pixelated version on our ancient computers at school.), so this survivor story immediately struck a chord in me. Add to that a dash of magic, and I was sold. To top it all off, the cast of characters is robust; there are some you love and some you hate and some you love to hate. Leah, the heroine, rivals Katniss, Tris, and other YA heroines for her strength, compassion, and sheer nerve. I immediately liked her. Overall, this one is a cross-country race to the finish, and I loved every mile of it. P.S.: That cover might be the most beautiful cover I've seen all year. Shiny! (Oh, I miss you, Firefly.)

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): Leah's reaction to her parents' murders is achingly gripping and suspenseful. She's completely broken up over it but realizes she has to be strong in order to move on and survive. It's the perfect jumping-off point for the journey, which apparently will be a trilogy. Yay!

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5 stars

*I read a digital ARC of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss.

Blackbird by Anna Carey

Title: Blackbird
Author: Anna Carey
Pages: 256
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062299734
Publication Date: September 16, 2014 (I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss.)
AR Levels: TBD
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20483089-blackbird

In a nutshell: What would you do if you woke up on a subway track with a train coming? What if you had no clue who you are or how you got there, and what if the only thing you knew was that someone is trying to kill you? Such is the premise for this insanely creative second-person thriller by the author of the Eve trilogy.

I'd recommend it to grades: 10 and up (for language and romantic situations)

I'd recommend it to: adrenaline junkies and mystery fans

What I liked most about this book: I couldn't put this one down, guys. I read it in one sitting. That second-person puts you right in the thick of the action, and it's a twisted race from start to finish. For a girl who has no clue who she is, the nameless protagonist is impressively self sufficient and basically kicks major butt, making the most of a dire situation. Nothing is as it seems in this thriller, and you can't trust anyone! I don't know how I'll wait for book two in this duology.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): It's next to impossible for me to tell you nearly anything about this one without spoiling something, so you're just going to have to take my word that it's awesome and read it. :)

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars 

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Perfect Ruin
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: 356
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
AR Levels: Book Level - 4.9, Interest Level - 6th and up, Points - 13.0
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17339241-perfect-ruin

In a nutshell: Morgan lives on Internment, a floating city that seems perfect, but when a girl turns up murdered, she finds herself wondering if there's a better world out there. Yet, even contemplating such things could brand her a traitor in a place where change is frowned upon and leaving is impossible.

I'd recommend it to grades: 8 and up

I'd recommend it to: fans of The Giver, The Hunger Games, the Matched series, the Lunar Chronicles, and the Delirium series

What I liked most about this book: This is a sci-fi fairytale in which everything is beautifully dark - the characters, the plot, the language, THE GORGEOUS COVER! It nods to The Giver and other recent books featuring strictly planned societies, but it's fresh enough that it's not a copy. It's this wonderful roller coaster of light airiness and dark underbelly, and I loved it. Give me book 2! ;)

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): On Internment, marriages are planned before babies are even born, and young children are given clear betrothal bands to wear on necklaces around their necks. When becoming teens, they begin to wear their bands on their hands, and when they get married, they fill their bands with the blood of their spouses, forever bonding them to one another, which is just another telling example of how this book is both beautiful and dark...and creepy in a good way.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars. I'd have given this 5 stars, but the cliffhanger at the end left me wanting more, and something about the pacing of this one was a bit off. It was rushed in places and slow in others, but overall, it's definitely a page-turner.

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Title: For Darkness Shows the Stars
Author: Diana Peterfreund
Pages: 402
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062006141
Publication Date: June 12, 2012
AR Levels: Book Level - 5.4, Interest Level - 6th and up, Points: 14.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8306761-for-darkness-shows-the-stars

In a nutshell: Four years ago, Elliot North gave up her chance at love and freedom when she refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, Kai, a servant on her family's crumbling estate. Now, Kai's come back into her life, and he's made quite a life for himself as an explorer, renaming himself Captain Malakai Wentforth. Unfortunately for Elliot, all hopes of rekindling their romance is dashed when Captain Wentforth makes it clear that he still harbors anger and resentment toward her, but maybe all is not as Elliot sees. Can Elliot save her family's estate from ruin, protect all the servants she's known and loved her whole life, and find a way to heal her broken heart when the source of her pain is living in her grandfather's home just down the road? Based loosely on Jane Austen's Persuasion, this novel asks thought-provoking questions about love, honor, duty, envy, pride, second chances, forgiveness, technology, and class in a post-apocalyptic setting.

I'd recommend it for grades: 7th and up (quite clean for a teen romance)

I'd recommend it to: Jane Austen fans, tween girls wanting to ease into teen romances, Hunger Games fans (something about Eliot and Kai reminds me of Katniss and Gale), and fans of the Lunar Chronicles

What I liked most about this book: As a huge Jane Austen fan, I'm a little embarrassed to say that I only read Persuasion just a few days before this book, but I loved it. After finishing it, I did wish I could have seen more of what Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth's relationship had been like before she refused him. This book does a great job of filling in those gaps in Kai and Elliot's relationship prior to the action of the book by interspersing letters they wrote back and forth throughout their childhood. It's sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time, but it helps you see just how much they lost when they separated.


Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): This book may appear on the surface to be just another teen romance, but there are some deep thoughts lurking just below the surface, such as this gem: "Envy hurt exponentially more than heartbreak because your soul was torn in two, half soaring with happiness for another person, half mired in a well of self-pity and pain." I think Jane Austen would be proud of this ambitious retelling with nuggets of truth like that.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The Fifth Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Pages: 457
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
ISBN: 9780399162411
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
AR Levels: TBD
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101128-the-5th-wave

In a nutshell: After surviving four waves of a deadly alien invasion that has wiped out the majority of the world's population through lack of power, tidal waves, and a plague, Cassie is determined to stay alive and rescue her kid brother Sammy, but waiting for the fifth wave is like waiting for the other shoe to drop, and Cassie can trust no one...can she?

I'd recommend this for grades: 10 and up (strong language and lots of death and violence obviously)

I'd recommend it to: science fiction fans (especially Doctor Who and X-Files fans), Hunger Games and I Am Number Four fans, and conspiracy theorists ;)

What I liked most about this book: This book has everything you could want in a great young adult novel: aliens, love, sarcastic humor, cute boys, a strong female lead, thrilling mystery, plot twists, government secrets, angst, interesting/loveable/hateable characters, and most of all excellent writing! This one exceeded my already high expectations based on all the hype it's getting! Read it!

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): When Cassie's describing what she's got packed in her survival kit, she pokes fun at herself about including a toothbrush and toothpaste. She's determined that if she's going to be murdered by aliens, she's at least going to go out with clean teeth. Haha! Cassie's snarky comments are part of my favorite thing about her character and this book. She's like Katniss but sassier.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5 stars!!! I can hardly wait for the next one! 

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Pages: 409
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 9780545224901
Publication date: October 18, 2011
AR levels: Interest level - 9-12th grades, Book level: 5.5, Points: 17

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10626594-the-scorpio-races

In a nutshell: Every November, the courageous riders on the island of Thisby face off in The Scorpio Races, a dangerous race in which they must attempt to tame and race the wild and bloodthirsty capaill uisce. These beautiful but deadly water horses emerge from the surf, and if a lucky rider can find one to lead him to victory, there's fame and fortune and glory to be had, but death could also be a raging hoofprint away. 

Both Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly feel the pull of the Races. Repeat champion and orphan Sean is tired of living under the bondage of his despicable employer, so he's laying everything he has on the line in order to start a new and independent life for himself. Puck Connolly, also an orphan, has no choice but to enter the Races; she must win in order to keep her family together, but the islanders won't be kind to the only girl to ever enter the Races. In a deadly race where only one can win and anyone can die, both Sean and Puck find themselves with equally vital motives for victory and a luring camaraderie that's as strong as the pull of the tides.

I'd recommend it for grades: 9 to 12 (It gets a bit bloody at times.)

I'd recommend it to: Hunger Games fans and horse lovers

What I liked most about this book: Simply put: the language is gorgeous. Stiefvater definitely has a way with words and imagery. I felt completely transported to this island, and even though the beginning is a bit slow plot-wise, I was so pulled in by the descriptions and the characters, that I couldn't stop. The race scene had me on the edge of my seat, and I think I may have held my breath a few times. The book is an alluring blend of violence, romance, courage, hope, suspense, action, and myth. This would make a breathtaking movie as well.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): Any scene where Sean is working to tame the capaill uisce is utterly magical. He's a water horse whisperer of immense talent, and it's incredible to watch him work with those beautiful and terrifying creatures. The character development of the water horses is amazing in and of itself too.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): a solid 4 stars