The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer

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The Inventor's Secret

by Andrea Cremer

In this steampunk version of history, we did not win the Revolutionary War, we are still dependent upon Great Britain, and they are not happy that we tried to fight back.  Set in the early 1800's, there is a place where the rebels send their children until they can join the resistance at 18, it is called the Catacombs.  Built underground in a secret location, it is where Charlotte calls home.

The older children who live in the Catacombs scavenge for scrap metal and subside on a simple existence.  Everything changes when Charlotte, who has been out scavenging, brings home a young boy instead of machine parts.  Not being able to recall why he was running through the woods, everyone but Charlotte is suspicious of the boy they call Grave; but she has seen the fear in his eyes, whatever he is, he is afraid.

Ashley is Charlotte's older brother and he is the leader in the Catacombs.  He and his handsome friend Jack are hiding a secret, but when Charlotte discovers what they're up to, she wants to be involved.  Killing two birds with one stone, the young freedom fighters decide to travel to the "Floating City" to see if they can meet with others in the resistance and find out more about Grave.

Society proves to be more daunting than outrunning the Empire's Rotpots through the forest.  Revealing dresses, servants and feminine niceties don't come naturally to Charlotte.  Will she unintentionally give them away?  Can she navigate through the social strata of the "Floating City"?  Can she find out the secret of the boy they call Grave?  The Inventor's Secret has been selected as the Best Children's Book of the Year and was on YALSA's Top Books for Teens in 2015.  The next book in the series comes out in early November, and I can hardly wait!  I expect that The Inventor's Secret series will be the next must-read for teens everywhere!

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

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The Scorpion Rules

by Erin Bow

An Artificial Intellegence, Talis, is in charge of keeping the peace in this post apocalyptic story, and "Talis's first rule of stopping wars:  'Make it personal.'"  Towards that effort, every leader in this new world must send one of their children to live in 'Preceptures' as 'Children of Peace'.  If your territory goes to war, you sacrifice that child.  Makes for some peaceful times.

Until the day Greta's precepture receives a new Child of Peace, a boy, and one who is not willing to follow the rules.  Greta befriends this new Child, Elian, even after it is clear that it might get her in a load of trouble.  When it becomes imminent that Greta's land is going to go to war with Elian's, she isn't sure that she can surrender herself the way that her upbringing has taught her.

Falling for Elian, and realizing that her roommate is more special that she could have imagined, Greta searches for a way to save her life.  Whether it is Elian or Xie, Greta finally has something to live for, but is she strong enough to go through with it?  You'll have to read The Scorpion Rules to find out!

The Scorpion Rules is a fresh look at a "what if"? scenario.  There is some violence and sexual innuendo that I imagine would be geared more toward a high school audience.  SPOILER ALERT:  What I really liked about this story is that there is an LGBTQ awakening, yet that is not at the crux of the story.  I think that many of my LGBTQ students would be able to relate to the questions that Greta and Xie have, and would appreciate the fact that it's complicated.  And....the story would be just as engaging without the love triangle!

The Scorpion Rules is the first in what promises to be a page-turning series.  I for one, can't wait to read the next one!

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

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Passenger 

by Alexandra Bracken

Henrietta, Etta, is a normal teen-aged girl.  She has trouble bonding with her mother, she is still reeling from a breakup with her boyfriend and she is determined that she is going to be the next best violin player in the world.  And then one day, that world is ripped apart and she finds herself a pawn in a timeless battle for power and wealth.  

Traveling through time, Etta has to decide what is most important in her life; her mother who has lied to her, time as she has always known it, or true love.  Exotic locales and historic time periods are the backdrop for romance and faced-paced adventures.  I don't think that I could decide which parts I like best, the descriptions of Damascus in 1599 or the romantic tension that slowly builds between Nicholas and Etta.

Students from middle to high school will be drawn to this novel whether they like fantasy, historical fiction or even romance.  Although told from Etta's point of view, I don't think that it is too girly for boys to enjoy as well.  I have put it on my next book order!  

Rook by Sharon Cameron

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Rook

by Sharon Cameron

A rook is a crow, a black bird known for its cleverness.  A rook is also a term for a swindler or a cheat.  It is also a pawn in the strategic game of chess.  In Cameron's latest novel, it is all of the above.

It is hundreds of years after the demise of the world as we know it.  Technology killed the people of the 'Time Before' and now the world is forced to live without.  No electricity, no machines, no internet.  Paris has fallen in on itself and now people live in the bottom and up the sides of the City of Light.  Governed by a sadistic ruler, those who do not comply are sent to the guillotine.  The prison is stained with the blood of innocents, but lately, there have been secret missions to free these prisoners.  Known as the Rook, someone has been sneaking prisoners out, right under the noses of the guards leaving only a red streaked feather behind.

Sophie has seen plenty of heartache in her young life, but none so much as the prospect of marrying Rene Hasard, a dashing "daughter stealer", arranged by her father to save their family estate and their family honor.  Sophie is willing to make the sacrifice to save her family, but her fiance is not all that he seems.  How much is Sophie willing to sacrifice not just for her family, but for the lives of all the innocent people being sent to their deaths in the Sunken City?

Cameron has written a complex and faced-paced novel that will leave you breathless.  Once you think you have it all figured out, she will lead you onto a different path.  I could not put this book down, every chapter ended with a cliffhanger, and I found myself saying, "one more chapter" until I was finished!  I enjoyed the characters, the story and found it refreshing that it didn't end as a set up for a series, it was just over, although I would love to read about Sophie and Rene's further adventures!  

I would recommend this book for middle school and high school libraries and for anyone who loves a good story.  And now I'm off to bury a Diet Coke bottle in the backyard!  Enjoy!

Dangerous Jobs: Special Forces Operator by Chris Bowman

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Dangerous Jobs:  Special Forces Operator 

by Chris Bowman

Special Forces Operator is one in the series of Dangerous Jobs.  This book is perfect for a reluctant reader or an ELL student.  The book is loaded with pictures of the Special Forces Operators in all aspects of their job.  There is also a glossary, an index and a list for further reading.

Some interesting facts that I learned about this division of the Armed Forces is that all individuals who enter the Special Forces must learn another language, and that they typically don't wear a uniform, even while performing their duties.

Although this book screams "boys", I think that girls would learn something from it as well.  With women in the Marines competing for jobs that have typically been held by men, this is a timely book that will appeal to a broad range of middle school students.

Get the Scoop on Animal Puke by Dawn Cusick

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Get the Scoop on Animal Puke

by Dawn Cusick

This book is sure to get the attention of all reluctant readers in your library!  From bees to jackals to caterpillars, Cusick explains why animals puke, why some don't and everything in between.

With engaging pictures, a glossary and two indexes, lovers of nonfiction will not be able to put this book down.  Anyone who is interested in gross things will love this book!  I loved this book!

Did you know that hyenas vomit the indigestible portions of the animals that they eat?  And then they roll around in it to disguise their smell from prey!  The things you learn when you read! 

Infected by Sophie Littlefield

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Infected

by Sophie Littlefield

Carina has lost the only family that she's known, her mother and her uncle. Both were working on a secret project for the government when they died.  Finding a secret code in a ring that her mother left for her, she begins to suspect that her family's deaths might not have been accidents.  When she and her boyfriend Tanner become infected with a virus that makes them stronger, faster and smarter, she's sure their deaths were not accidents.  The only problem - the virus will kill them if they don't take the antidote within 24 hours of infection.

Trusting no one but her boyfriend Tanner, the pair must race to find how they were infected and get to the antidote before it's too late.