#56-58

#56 The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle series book Three)

The Gemma Doyle conclusion! Overall, I enjoyed this trilogy, but had a tough time getting through this last book. The storyline was fun and complex and perfectly followed the end of the second book, but I felt some parts of the story really dragged on. I found myself putting the book down and thinking, "Can we just finish this already?" But, I do hate to give the book a bad name. I am very glad I read it and certainly would have felt incomplete had I not finished this last book in the series.

#57 Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Must admit...did not actually read this one. I listened to it on CD during a trip across Texas. It was perfect for that! As Sophie Kinsella books are, it was light-hearted, fun, humorous and a sweet ending. Exactly what I was looking for.

Lara Lington's great-aunt Sadie has passed away and she must attend her funeral. She has never met her great-aunt and is wrapped up in her recent breakup to really care. But while at the funeral, Lara meets Sadie. No, Lara isn't going crazy, Sadie's ghost appeals to Lara asking about her necklace. Once Lara comes to terms with seeing and hearing a ghost, she learns of Sadie's incredible story of living through the 20s and even does some 20s living herself.

This was a great summer read! Fun, easy, breezy!

#58 Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has loved Margo Roth Spiegelman his whole life...but she doesn't know it. Ever since they were kids, he has been fascinated by her adventurous spirit and wild ways. When she climbs in his window one night asking him to join her for a car ride, the real adventure begins. Q begins to see a bit more of the real Margo. When Margo goes missing, Q finds clues to try to piece together her location. The clues and the journey he embarks upon bring him more than he could've asked for.

This was my first John Green book. I have a friend who absolutely raves about his work, so I decided to try it out myself. He is an incredible writer...my friend was right on! He is witty, smart, so clever, funny, and so very creative. He weaved a tight storyline and it was fun to go along with Q while he found these crazy, obscure clues looking for Margo. I didn't care for Margo at times though. She seemed as if she believed the world revolved around her and didn't watch out for people's feelings. And the ending was so-so (but I like a nicely wrapped, happy ending which doesn't always fit a good book). I completely enjoyed the book though and will be looking for more John Green in the future. Highly recommended friends!

#52-55

#52 Heist Society by Ally Carter (Heist Society Book One)

Fun read!! My 6th grade girls will love this book. Katarina Bishop's father loves art. He loves it so much, that he has made a career of stealing it. Katarina, being her father's daughter, has a knack for the same lifestyle. But instead of following in her infamous father's footsteps, she's decided to stay in boarding school and follow the rules...until she's kicked out of school for a crime she didn't commit. She ends up back in her father's world of art dealers and stealers, but this time she has to make a difficult choice. Stay out of the thief life or jump back in to save her father. This story takes the reader on a fast-paced exciting adventure through different countries and landmarks. And a little romance along the way is always nice. Very fun!

#53 The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

Remember Allie and Noah from The Notebook? Remember crying while turning the pages and looking up at your husband with a newfound love while he looked back at you with a look of bewilderment? Oh! Was that just me? Well, in this story, Noah and Allie's children continue their story. Wilson is married to Jane, one of Allie and Noah's daughers. They've been married for 30 years and Wilson realizes that his wife has fallen out of love with them. The everyday tasks of life, a job, and four children has taken its toll on their relationship. Wilson decides it is up to him to save his marriage. With the help of his romantic father-in-law Noah, he sets out to win her back while his own daughter plans her wedding.

In typical Sparks' fashion, a quick read, a fun read, and a sappy read. But hey! This girl ain't complainin'! Sometimes, that's exactly what you need.

#54 A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle series Book One)

Thank you Libba Bray! A terrific trilogy you've got here! This first in the series introduces us to Gemma Doyle. Gemma grew up in India, but ends up in a London finishing school after foreseeing her mother's murder in a disturbing vision. The visions that plague Gemma leave her scared and unsure. Once at Spence, her knew home and school, she tries to make friends, but can't quite find her place...until she blackmails a group of girls to let her into their clique. An Indian boy named Kartik warns Gemma to resist the visions, but when Gemma is given a diary with detailed secrets of The Order, she can't ignore what she knows is real. Gemma is able to take herself, and anyone else she wishes, into a secret realm where she has powers beyond her wildest dreams. Gemma begins to understand her role in the realm is more than she realized and her mother may not be who she thought she was either.

I would absolutely share this with my girls! Very adventurous and beautifully crafted. Set in the late 19th century, it is thrilling to read about a time period so different from our own, but yet so similar.

#55 Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle series Book Two)

After an exciting first book, this second in the trilogy does not disappoint. It is now Christmas at Spence and Gemma, Felicity, Ann and Pippa (kinda) are thrilled to spend the holidays in London. But even though they leave Spence, they don't leave their adventures in the realm behind. In fact, Gemma's visions become stronger and the mystery of The Order more intense. Kartik warns Gemma of danger and the magic found in the realm while the danger she faces may be too much for herself and her friends to handle.

I have a hard time reviewing series books for the obvious fact that some facts can spoil the first book for a new reader. I realize I've given very few details here, but trust me...if you enjoyed the first Gemma book, you'll enjoy this one as well.

#51

#51 A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

This book surprised me. After I was about 100 pages into it, I posted to Goodreads and Facebook "This is one twisted tale." I still believe that...this is dark and twisty folks, but I now see that it is more than just that. The characters have been marinating in my mind this week and are more than simply one-dimensional, freaky, heartless beings. (Although there's a lot of that going on too.)

The story follows three characters: Ralph, Catherine and Antonio during the early 1900s. Most of the story occurs in a bleak, isolated, often snow-covered Wisconsin town. Ralph is looking for a "reliable wife" and places an ad in the newspaper. Catherine responds and heads to Wisconsin. (So much easier than what most of us go through to find a mate huh?) Come to find out, Catherine is quite a bit more than she seems, and by quite a bit I mean she's a very bad girl with very bad intentions. However, it's not all her doing...enter Antonio. Antonio, tall, dark and handsome, has a direct connection to Ralph and a reason to wish him harm. (Ssshh...I not tell you how...) Much to her surprise, Catherine does grow to love Ralph and has to decide if her initial intentions for his demise should continue.

These are not good characters friends. They are horrible to one another and themselves. Destructive, hurtful, downright naughty. But, doesn't everyone deserve love and kindness and forgiveness?

I'd recommend this one friends, but be prepared for some surprises along the way. And if you're like me, the biggest surprise came at the end when I actually started to root for these guys.

A friend of mine suggested to I read Goolrick's memoir The End of the World As We Know It because much of his inspiration for this novel came from his real life. I think I may need to check into it. Let's be honest. What's a good story without some good drama and conflict?

#50

# 50 Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (Incarceron Book 1)

What comes to mind when you hear the word "incarceration?" Prison right? Bars on the doors, no windows, prisoners, isolation. Get rid of all you know, or think you know, about prison before reading this book. This is a prison you can't imagine. It is alive, it changes, it is unpredictable, it thinks, it's a nightmare. Finn is a prisoner in Incarceron. He can't remember ever not living in the prison, but has strange, fuzzy memories of life Outside. Has Finn ever been Outside? He has a strange tattoo and a desire to find a way out. He believes in Sapphique, an enigmatic character all prisoners believe escaped Incarceron in the past. But how can he escape when the prison is always watching and listening?

Claudia lives Outside in a world of imprisonment, doomed to an arranged marriage she dreads, raised by a father she fears. She knows her father is the warden of Incarceron, but what that truly means, she doesn't understand.

Finn and Claudia both find a special key and discover a connection to one another. Finn's desire to escape becomes Claudia's quest.

I don't typically enjoy science fiction titles, but this may be the exception. There was just enough action and believable character development, but not too much weirdness to turn me off to the book or confuse me. Whey are sci-fi books so hard for me to read? Maybe it's a character flaw, but this one I'd recommend to my young readers.

Oh, and the second in the series? Sapphique! I'll be looking for it in the library this summer!

#48-49

#48 Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster

I have been searching and searching for a pair of dystopian books to share with my kids next year in literature circles. With the surge of dystopian tales flooding the YA bookshelves, I've had my hands full picking titles and reading up. This one grabbed my eye, literally, by the cover and I'd seen it advertised on my fave sight goodreads.com. Doesn't it look creepy!?

Picture a normal town, normal citizens, normal annual festival. In this town, the annual talent show is the draw of the year. Kyle Straker and three other people volunteer to be hypnotized at the event. When they awaken from their hypnosis, everyone in the town seems to be in a hypnotic sleep themselves. No one is moving, no one is blinking, but everyone is exactly where they were before the hypnosis started. Kyle and his mobile friends walk through town and see the same thing everywhere: people they've always known stuck as if on pause in a movie. When everyone "awakens," they are zombies. They walk around and move, but they do not seem to notice Kyle and the three others. It's as if they have been reprogrammed. But what really happened? And what will happen to Kyle and his friends?

And yes, the cover of the book is explained. I sure don't want to spoil that for you friends!

Did I mention the story-telling method? Very cool. The story is told in first person from Kyle's point of view; however, his story is recorded on cassette tapes and the book is the transcript. This is all explained on the first page of the book. I thought it a very unique and fitting way to tell the story.

Will I use it in literature circles? No, probably not. Is this a great work of literature? No, it's really not. Was it cool story to read? Yeah. I did find the ending of the book a bit too fast. All the big events that occur in the book wrap up so quickly, I almost felt letdown in the end. Fear not friends, I have not lost hope. Though I will continue to enjoy my search. I'm still on the lookout for a dystopian book that also holds some literary worth, not simply a good story. Something that I can also use to show kids good writing techniques, plot depth, that sort of nerdy LA stuff. Do you know of one?? Please let me know!

#49 The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Cool book cover huh? Strange...I have mentioned the book cover on both of these books. I try not to "judge a book by it's cover," but it is hard with cool covers like this.

In my quest to find good literature circle titles, I have been looking for dystopian books, but I've also tried to find books with a strong environmental theme. After reading Ship Breaker, I was determined to find it a suitable companion. The Water Wars stood out to me when I found it. The story is set in the future, but it does not overwhelm with strange technologies or crazy inventions like food pellets or hyperdrive cars. Even though it is a futuristic story, it deals with a primitive need: water. Water has become scarce. If you are not wildly wealthy, you have to rely on the government for water, and it's hardly real water. Vera and Will are siblings. They have to rely on the government-controlled water for survival. Vera meets a boy named Kai who comes from a very wealthy family. Kai has clean water to share and Vera is completely enamored, as anyone would be. Kai and Vera become friends and he shares a special gift with Vera. TEENY TINY SPOILER ALERT!! He can "smell" water. He has found a clean, undiscovered water source the government does not know about.

As you can imagine, the government and big corporations don't let this go on for long and when Kai and his father are kidnapped, Vera and Will take off to look for their friend. Along the way, pirates, harpoon guns, cross-country travel, dog fighting in a jet, attempts at big corporation take-down, torture, typical fast-paced YA lit adventure I like.

Will I use this for my lit circle? I'm not sure yet, maybe. Again, I'm trying to find just the right one. This was a fun read, one I'll highly recommend to my kids, but I'll keep looking.

#46-47

#46 Trapped by Michael Northrop

Where is the absolute worst place you can imagine to be stuck during the worst snowstorm on record? Yep...you got it. A high school. Scotty and a couple of his friends arrive at school just like every other day, but soon the snow begins and doesn't stop. They don't have a way home like nearly every other student in the school, so they stay along with a teacher and a few other students. The snow continues for days, trapping them inside. The pipes begin to freeze, the heat goes out, the roof begins to creak and moan with the weight of the snow, and the kids have to do anything they can to survive.

I mostly enjoyed this one. The idea of being stuck in a school with no way out is pretty horrible and the events between the kids struggling to survive are really pretty interesting. The ending bothered me. It was so abrupt and a bit of a letdown after so much buildup and drama. I wouldn't say, "Don't read this one," but if there are other books on your nightstand, read those first.

#47 Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

The name "Jodi Picoult" in my book is synonymous with "Must Read." Her latest title is no exception. Critics would argue that her books are not works of art and will not turn into classical literature, but if you want a compelling and gut-wrentching read, there is no one better. I do have to put forth a warning. If you have had experience with losing a child, especially due to miscarriage or stillbirth, this book may be too much to handle. (No, I'm not giving anything away, believe me). Having no children of my own, I think I can handle her books a little easier. I think it's why I always cry when reading a dog book, but can hold myself together with a Picoult book.

Zoe and Max have been desperately trying for nearly a decade to have a baby. After learning of their own fertility issues, they try alternative methods of conceiving, spending thousands and thousands of dollars on IVF and all different types of medical treatments. When Zoe delivers a stillborn baby at 28 weeks, their marriage crumbles and they divorce. Zoe meets a guidance counselor named Vanessa and they become instant best friends. Vanessa helps Zoe cope with the loss of yet another child and a marriage. Zoe and Vanessa fall in love and decide to marry, having to leave their home state to do so legally. The two decide they want to have a child together, but quickly face opposition from Max due to religious and financial reasons.

I love love love that Picoult doesn't shy away from hot button issues. I love that she tells stories from different perspectives, as she does again in this book, and I love that when I read one of her books, I want to talk about it with someone. This would make a fabulous book club read. This book had a unique feature, a CD. Picoult co-wrote the lyrics with the singer and the music adds another layer to the already complex story.

Highly recommended reading from me to you. But as stated, her books require a total investment from the reader. You have to begin knowing you'll be giving your time and emotion to the plot. If you're up for it, have at it! And please let me know what you think.

#43-45

#43 Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

2011 Newbery Award winner!

Abilene Tucker's father has sent her to live with the "preacher" in his hometown of Manifest, Kansas, while he finds work elsewhere. Abilene arrives in the town (after jumping from the train) to find...well, not a whole lot. The year is 1936 and Abilene is 12 years old. Most everyone in the town is suffering from the Depression and is doing their best to get by. Abilene discovers a cigar box of mementos in her new home and spends her summer trying to learn what each means. Along the way, she meets a fortune teller named Miss Sadie and the local newspaper columnist Hattie Mae Harper and discovers there is more to Manifest, and her father, then she could ever imagine.

I was initially drawn to the story because it is the latest Newbery winner but also because it's set in Kansas. Being from the sunflower state myself, I was curious about the story. It toggles back and forth from present day 1936 to 1917 with such ease, I enjoyed the change in setting quite a bit. I can see how this may be difficult for young readers to deal with and was a little surprised it was chosen for the prestigious award this year. I'm sure a lot has to do with the fact that this is such a clever story. All the little details that Abilene uncovers fit so nicely together. It is almost like a story you should read twice just to go back and really understand how the writer pieced it all together.

This would be a fun historical fiction novel to read with a class. Many of the important details from the story come through old newspaper columns. It may be fun to use with a class and then work to create some kind of newspaper or time capsule. And the story itself has great historical references including the Depression, KKK and Prohibition. And above all, it follows a young girl growing up and learning about who she is and how she fits into a new town. Highly recommended from this reader!

#44 The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn

I'm on the lookout for new novels for my sixth graders next year. With the surge of dystopian tales, I wanted to find a couple to offer to my young students, hopefully through a literature circle format. I had high hopes for this novel...and was a bit disappointed. The premise of the story is incredible. I was very excited to read it. But I found myself feeling bored and bit underwhelmed with the random events. However, it may be just me. I like to read reviews others have written and on barnesandnoble.com, this book received high marks. This almost makes me feel like I need to give the book another chance, but no, I'm moving on. But don't take my word for it. 58 online reviewers would disagree with me.

In this story, Kayla is a high schooler living in a futuristic society where people are being barcoded. The barcode on their arm is to make life easier. Everything you need can be contained in your barcode. It is how you pay for things, it's how you are identified. Kayla is finally old enough to get her own tattoo, but decides she doesn't want one. She refuses to get the mark nearly everyone else in her community wears, and she suffers for it. Kayla begins to question her society when her best friend's family loses their home, certain people can't pay for necessities with their tattoo, and she discovers the real reason her father suddenly died. Much of the book was interesting, but I found the ending to be a bit of a letdown. Kayla suddenly discovers she has a sort of sixth sense and can communicate with others in a unique way.

See, sounds pretty cool right? I can see how young readers would enjoy this book and it does lend itself to some great discussion of government control and individual freedoms. I certainly encourage you to try it out, just didn't work for me.

#45 Truesight by David Stahler, Jr. (Book One Truesight Trilogy)

As I mentioned in the book review above, I'm trying to find quality dystopian books for my kiddos. This was another attempt and sadly, another fail. As in the last book, the premise is pretty cool, but the outcome isn't so great. What is wrong with me this week? I'm usually very happy with all the books I read. Maybe I'm getting pickier in my old age?

Jacob lives on a planet far from Earth in a community called Harmony. Due to genetic engineering, everyone in Harmony is blind. It is believed that "vision corrupts the mind with distractions." Jacob has spent his whole life in Harmony and believes all he's learned. Until, he begins experiencing headaches and begins to see. Jacob regains his sight and begins to see another side of Harmony he never expected. What he sees and learns about his community and the people who live in it causes him to question all he's ever known about his life.

Another very interesting storyline. I liked this story more than The Bar Code Tattoo, but I'm still not sure it's good enough to share with my students in an academic way. I will encourage them to read it on their own and many of them will love it, but I'm still on the lookout for better dystopian-style titles. If you have any suggestions, please leave me a post!

#42

#42 Empty by Suzanne Weyn

"'When are we going to get it through our heads that oil is a nonrenewable resource? ...we must throw ourselves wholeheartedly into developing every source of renewable energy - nothing less than our survival as a global community depends on it.'"

We all know it's true. One day the oil will run out. What will the world be like? That's Suzanne's Weyn's task in this YA novel. At the start of the book Empty, gas prices are so high, most people can't afford to fill up their car or heat their home. Whole town are losing power and the food is running out. And this is all before the hurricanes come. You can just imagine the craziness that ensues. Niki, Gwen and Tom are teens growing up in the middle of it all and trying to find a way to survive in a new world.

This book is an honest look at what could happen to our world if we don't make big changes in the near future. There is so much talk about global warming, environmental changes and recycling and this book would be wonderful to use with students. I think it would pair well with a book I read and reviewed just a couple weeks ago: Ship Breaker. If we can get our young readers involved in making positive changes to help our communities, amazing things can begin to happen.

Sidenote: I just have to share a story about some of my students who are truly making a difference. A few of my kiddos did a service learning project about the need to eliminate styrofoam. They researched and read and got fired up about their project. They decided to try and convince our school district to get rid of the styrofoam lunch trays used in the cafeterias. They found companies that sell biodegradable trays, researched the cost, found the best prices, everything. They presented their findings to the principal who agreed they did an amazing job. They kept on bugging her, finding her in the halls, talking to other students, until she had no choice but to bring in the head of food service for the district. The kids presented their project to these administrators, convincing them to look into biodegradable trays. Admin was so impressed that our campus will be piloting a program to rid our district of styrofoam trays all because a small group of students got excited, passionate and wouldn't back down from what they knew was right. Love it!

#41

#41 Room by Emma Donoghue

Five year old Jack and his mother are being held captive in a small storage room in the backyard of an older man. Jack's mother was kidnapped when she was 19 years old and has been held prisoner in this room for 7 years. Jack and his mother are provided limited food and clothing, but are never allowed to leave. Jack believes Room is the whole world and has no desire to ever leave thanks to his mother who has created a happy and entertaining life within the four walls of Room. When his mother begins talking about escaping, Jack can't understand why she would ever want to leave their home.

The story is narrated in the voice of Jack, and it was interesting to listen to a young boy's perspective of the horrible situation, but I quickly became annoyed with him. I feel like a bad person for saying so, but I just couldn't appreciate his voice. I kept imagining him as one of those annoying squeaky-voiced children you can't stand to listen to and I found myself often thinking, "Seriously? Seriously..." Perhaps this all goes back to my childless life, but I just couldn't get into this story.

Far be it from me to dissuade anyone from reading, but this just wasn't the right one for me.

Moving on!

#38 - 39

#38 Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

12-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion, a.k.a. Locomotion, is living with a foster family after losing his parents in a tragic event. His sister Lili is living with a different family. He writes letters to her to keep in touch and help them both remember their past memories. Lonnie is happy with his foster mom, but still aches for his sister and parents. The letters help him deal with the gap he feels in his life.

I shared this immediately with my students, reading to them the opening poem "Imagine Peace" where Lonnie compares peace to soft flannel sheets and the good full feeling you have after eating a great dinner. Give me a beautiful poem and I'm done for. All through the book, Locomotion tries to understand peace and how, even in the midst of the Vietnam war and hurt and anger, peace can be found.

Jacqueline Woodson has once again written a touching novel about growing up and learning to deal with whatever life throws at you. But even more than that, her writing (done all in the form of letters and poems) is so lyrically beautiful, you can't help but read slowly just to enjoy the words.

#39 Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (Book one Ship Breaker series)

Recent winner of the Michael L. Printz Award

Hunger Games fans...never fear! Peeta and Katniss may be done, but Nailer and Nita are just beginning! Collins fans will be thrilled reading this new dystopian series. Picture a future North America where oil production has ruined the landscape, cities including New Orleans are completely underwater, the Arctic has lost most of its wildlife, and old tanker ships are being broken down for their metal parts. Nailer is a teenage boy on light crew whose job it is to fit into the old ductwork of the ships and strip out the copper wiring to make his daily quota and hopefully live another day.

A huge storm, a city killer, sweeps through the area, leaving Nailer and his friend Pima homeless. As they try to make their way back to their jobs, they find a clipper ship. Onboard the ship, they find more wealth than they could ever imagine. They also find a rich girl, a swank, who somehow lived through the storm. Nailer has to decide whether to kill the girl and take the riches he's found to buy his freedom from light crew or save her and help her find her way home and hopefully a better life for himself.

This was a great, fast-paced, adventurous novel I can't wait to get into the hands of my kids. They will devour this book and its futuristic implications. This would be a great book to read in a literature circle and do some deep talking about oil consumption and the environmental issues associated with it. Certainly a strong message about taking care of our Earth and each other. I will be eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

According to Bacigalupi's website, his other books really delve into important social issues. I'll be looking him up at my local library. It's great when students read, but even more exciting when they're reading high quality books with strong implications for the future. Love it!

#36-37

#36 Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness (Book three Chaos Walking trilogy)

"'War makes monsters of men, you once said to me, Todd. Well, so does too much knowledge. Too much knowledge of your fellow man, too much knowledge of his weakness, his pathetic greed and vanity, and how laughably easy it is to control him.'"

Well, I finally made it to the end. I feel like I've run a marathon and I'm not sure how to put my experience into words. Admittedly, this book was more difficult for me to get through than the other two, but not because I had lost interest in the storyline or characters. In fact, the book became more complex, dealing with more obscure characters and "sci-fi" (NOT syfy) situations. I had to slow down and read with caution.

The New World war continues, but this time the Spackle organize against the humans to avenge their murdered comrades. A group of new settlers arrives and the Mayor of the town struggles even more with the ceaseless Noise while both Todd and Viola are forced to make decisions that will change the course of the human race. I feel like I can't say much without giving things away!

If you're in for a rollercoaster ride, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

#37 If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia is a 17 year-old cellist from a close, musical family. She and her family are in a horrible car accident leaving her in a coma and her family gone. As her mangled body lays in a hospital room, Mia is fully aware of her surroundings and is walking around the hospital watching herself and her family. (Think Ghost but without the ability to move cans and smash cigarette cases). As she learns of the seriousness of her condition, she also has to make the decision to fight for her life or succumb to the peacefulness of death.

A strong story with gorgeous writing. Very poetic and beautiful and I can see how this book could help young people dealing with loss. Mia remembers the memories of her family and wants to dwell in the past, but she also knows that she has a family still alive and waiting for her to wake up. A powerful read.

#35

#35 The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (Book two Chaos Walking trilogy)

I've put off writing this review for a day because I wasn't sure what to say. This book took me on an unexpected emotional rollercoaster ride. This book pulled me in, gripped me tight, made me mad, pulled me in again, made me mad again, and kept me hooked until the very last page, where I got mad again. I had to finish it just to give myself some relief.

If you are a fan of recording the titles you read (I'm sure I'm not the only nerd I know), you may want to check out http://www.goodreads.com. If you do, look for me: goodreads.com/amontgomery. I mention this seemingly off topic comment because on the site, when you finish a book, you have the opportunity to rank it on a scale of 1-5 stars. I normally rank books in the 3-4 star range, reserving the 5 star ranking for those most special books. I gave this book 5 stars without hesitation. I don't want to go overboard with this title and make you believe this is the book everyone in the world has been waiting for, but it just really struck a cord with me. And isn't that what reading books is all about anyway? Finding books that really hit you?

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!

In this second book in the trilogy, we begin with Todd and Viola. The chapters are written from their alternating points of view, which I enjoyed. The two have been separated upon reaching the town of Haven where Mayor Prentiss is in full control and purposefully keeping Todd and Viola apart. As in book number one, The Noise continues to be a battle for the townspeople. Todd learns about the native people living in New World, the Spackle, and what has happened to them in Haven. The Mayor's true character is revealed when we learn of his ability to control The Noise and what he is doing with that ability. A quote that stuck out to me comes from Mayor/President Prentiss (evilevilevilevil!), "'I have two maxims that I believe...One, if you can control yourself, you can control others. Two, if you can control information, you can control others.'" This book is all about control; control of self, control of others, lack of control. Viola and Todd are on opposite sides of this "control" and each must decide how far they are willing to go to do what they believe to be right.

Read the first one, The Knife of Never Letting Go, and prepare yourself for The Ask and the Answer. I've got the third book on hold at the library, Monsters of Men and I'm planning to pick it up today. Go find a copy for yourself and share a comment with me about what you think!

#34

#34 The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (Book 3 Millennium series)

I'm thrilled to say...I finished the Millennium Trilogy!! What a wild ride! I think this was my favorite of all three. It was the one I had the hardest time putting down. And I got very lucky since I was finishing it during my 4 unexpected snow days this past week. What a perfect time to cuddle up with crazed killers, corrupt police officers, and vicious lawyers. :)

This third book begins the same moment the second ends. Salander and Blomkvist continue as the main characters, but the story does spread wider to include many more big players. The reader gets to learn much more about Salander's (twisted) family and the injustices done to her thanks to her terrible father. And as all great crime stories, the books ends with a great trial scene. Be aware! The action truly doesn't stop until the very bitter end. I hate to give much more than that away dear readers. If you have gotten this far into the series, you absolutely must finish with this third book.

I admit, I forgot many of the character's names and roles in the story (there were so many!) and had to just keep reading. I was worried that I wouldn't get the story, but it ended up being okay. If I was to offer a suggestion to serious readers, keep track of the characters' names on a piece of paper. It's hard to remember them all.

Sidenote: I utilize my public library system as often as possible and try hard not to spend money on books, but this one had 22 people waiting ahead of me. There was no way I could wait that long. The book is only available in hardback at this point (at least $20), so I took the plunge and spent the $9.99 on the Kindle version. Shoutout to my Kindle! Love you!

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#33 Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle

Seeing as how this book was a Texas Lonestar book, I am surprised I hadn't read it sooner. I picked this one up to preview for a possible literature circle title for my sixth graders. I was hoping it would appeal to my boys and include opportunity for great historical research as well. It does! And I admit that I cheated just a little. I found this on CD at the library and listened to it going to and from work. But honestly, what a great use of time!

This story is set in present day with flashbacks to 1929. Rebuen Hart and Jeddy Mackenzie live in Rhode Island during Prohibition. One day Rebuen and Jeddy find a dead body on the beach, a man who was shot in the neck and washed up on the shore. They assume he was a rum runner. When they return later in the day with the police to take him, the body has disappeared. Pretty soon, the two boys are accused of taking an important item from the dead man and end up in the middle of a liquor smuggling battle. Jeddy's father is the police chief and both boys have to decide if it's more important to follow the law or watch out for your friends.

I think my kids will enjoy the story and all the rum running and liquor smuggling will be fun to talk about.

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#32 The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Book 1 Chaos Walking series)

Have you ever read a book that was so full of evil characters that you nearly throw the book down because you can't believe what you're reading? That was this book for me. And darn you Patrick Ness! Now I absolutely must read the next Chaos Walking book! What happens to Todd and Viola!? I must know!

Todd Hewitt lives in Prentisstown where life goes along quite normally for him. You know, live on a farm, take care of the cows, and listen in to everyone's thoughts including his dog. What? Yes! In this book, there are no secrets. All inner monologue can be heard in a strange mess of sound in Prentisstown. Todd has learned to live with this until he stumbles upon silence in the woods. The silence is coming from a girl. Todd has never even seen a girl before. All the members of Prentisstown are men. So, how did this girl arrive here all alone? As the story continues, Todd begins to learn that everything he has been taught about his town and this new world, has been lies. He and the girl in the woods, Viola, head off on a quest for safety and answers.

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#29 Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs by Ron Koertge

After reading Koertge's first book about Kevin and his dealings with mono, girls, poetry and baseball, I had to know what happened to him next. So glad I read this little book. Koertge continues his work with verse and Kevin keeps experimenting with poetic types. In this story, Kevin has to choose between his girlfriend Mira and a new girl named Amy, another poet dedicated to the craft just as much as Kevin. He meets Amy at an open mic poetry night his Dad brings him to and is instantly enthralled by Amy's free spirit and poetic talent. They begin emailing poems back and forth while Kevin tries to sort out his feelings for her. A sweet story with some incredible lines. I even used one of the poetry verses as my Facebook status. Now that's serious.

#30 The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (Book 2 Millenium series)

What can I say about this novel? What can't I say? It's awesome! Lisbeth Salander is once again the focus of this story, but in a very different situation. After saving Mikael's life and pulling off an incredible heist, Lisbeth Salander all but disappears, much to Mikael's chagrin. After numerous attempts to contact her, Mikael believes her to be out of his life forever, until he sees her being attacked on the street one night. Not only is someone trying to kill her, she's a suspect in three murders, including two of Mikael's friends writing for Millenium in an attempt to expose a sex-trafficing operation. As Lisbeth attempts to keep herself safe, she has to face up to her sordid past and Mikael has to decide how far he should go to help an old friend. Will he be able to return the favor she did for him? I highly recommend reading on to find out.

Just bought the last book in the series, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, for my Kindle. Only $9.99! Can't wait to get started! I have to find out what happens to Lisbeth!

#31 The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite

by Dr. David Kessler, M.D.

Okay friends, I did cheat just a little bit with this book. I didn't actually read it. I listened to it on my way to and from work. It was enlightening to say the least; it was scary to say the most. If one of your loves is going out to eat, maybe steer clear of this book. It reveals a disturbing side of the food industry and what companies do to hook you into going back for more and more and more. A lot of the book is based on brain research and I found that fascinating. I think my colleagues got sick of me coming to lunch with stories starting with the line, "In this book I'm listening to..." I had no idea how powerful food was, but understand now why it's so hard to "just eat one." The food habits we have trained our brain into believing often keep us from making good food choices. The structure of your brain can actually be changed with food. Yeah! It's that powerful!

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#26 Glass by Ellen Hopkins

After the first powerful story of Kristina/Bree and her downward spiral, I had to know what would happen to her. Turns out, it got worse. As Kristina continues to deal with her meth addiction, we see how it begins to affect so many others, including her children. (Don't worry...that's not a spoiler). She makes attempts at a job and a new life, but even her best efforts are not as strong as the pull of the "monster." This second in the series is just as compelling and heart wrenching as the first, told again in verse.

#27 Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

The final installment in the Crank series. Fallout is unique in that it is told from the points of view of Kristina's children. The story jumps ahead a few years to show the continued effects of the choices Kristina has made. In their own ways, Hunter, Summer and Autumn are dealing with their mom's past. Hopkins does an incredible job of showing how addiction does not only affect the person with the addiction, but everyone around them as well.

I would highly recommend this series to high school students, many of whom may be suffering from their own addictions. I'd think if these books helped even one young person make better life choices, they would be successful.

#28 Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge

This cute little book was quite a nice reprieve from the Crank books. I think I needed just one more book of verse before diving back into The Girl Who Played With Fire. Kevin Boland is 14, an incredible baseball player, and stuck in the house suffering from mono or "monouglyosis" as he calls it. His dad, a writer, buys Kevin a journal and suggests he spends his time writing to get his feelings out while he gets well. Well, why not! This book is Kevin's journal. And as expected, he drags his feet about writing but ends up learning about poetry and trying his hand at writing some. The teacher side of me loved the writing especially since Kevin plays with different poetic forms including sonnets, couplets, And he has plenty to write about: baseball, the feeling of being trapped inside without his friends, the new girl Mira, and missing his mother who died when he was young.

One of the main reasons I chose to read this book is that its sequel Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs has just come out and I want to get my hands on it too. I'm hoping to write a review of that soon! Stay tuned dear friends!

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#25 Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Powerful, poetic, brutally honest. Crank is a journey through the eyes of a teenage girl, Kristina Snow, as she is introduced to the world of drugs. The hold this "monster" has on her life is difficult to witness. Satisfying her addiction soon becomes more important than anything and leads to horrible consequences affecting her and everyone around her.

The writer (or rather, poet) Ellen Hopkins explains in the author's note that the book is fictional but comes from her families experience with drug use. Because of her personal experiences, the story she has written in full poetic form takes on an even more haunting tone.

This is a story for young people as well as adults. It is certainly one I would encourage older YA readers to experience. Kristina's story continues with Glass and Fallout, both of which I've already requested from my library.