A Great Horror Story

The Boo Hag (The Lenny Chronicles #1) by David Morgan (CreateSpace, 2012, 328pp.)

Boo Hag (n): a creepy, skinless female demon from folklore that preys upon humans by stealing their skins and then masquerading as the now-deceased--at least until it’s time for a new wardrobe.

Is your skin crawling yet? Just be glad you’re not Lenny Petrakas. Lately, she’s been having problems with one of these pesky demons who just can’t seem to take a hint! Fortunately, she’s got a few loyal friends who are as determined as she is not to let that happen.

Reader, you will be glad to know that this isn’t your usual horror story. In your standard fare, the hapless heroine does all sorts of stupid things to advance the plot. You know, the kind of moments that will either make you cry, “Don’t go in there!” or “Ha, ha! You’re going to get it!”, depending on whether or not you actually care about the characters. In the case of Morgan’s leading lady, Lenny at least goes armed with her wits and a hockey stick.

The story’s pacing is fairly quick, and although the suspense is sometimes slackened by pointless scenes of Lenny’s friends swooning over their crushes (get back to the boo hag, already!) the novel ends on a cliffhanger that will guarantee your interest in any sequel. The Boo Hag will appeal to teens of any age who like scary stories, as well as fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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For Fans of the Parallel World Premise

Have Book – Will Travel by Kfir and Yonatan Luzzatto (Pine Ten, LLC, 2012)

(Warning: Spoilers Ahead!)

Whether it’s off to Narnia through the magic wardrobe or falling down a rabbit-hole into Wonderland, transport to parallel worlds has always been a favorite in fantasy. In Have Book – Will Travel, the method of transportation happens to be a book – specifically, one Book of Dreams found by two friends, Darla and Max, in the storage room of an old fortress. Read a line aloud, any line, and within seconds, you’re in another dimension.

Plot-wise, the novel chronicles the adventures of Darla and Max as they flit from world to world. Max and Darla only visit two unnamed parallel worlds. The first, only briefly touched on, is ruled by gentlewomen who consider men to be second-class citizens. Upon the teens’ arrival, Max is thrown immediately into prison to await execution. After a few chapters spent trying to rescue Max, the two escape into a second world, one somewhat similar to their home world except for a few tweaks in the laws of physics. To be more exact, it’s not uncommon for people to find their spirits separated from their bodies, either by fever (you literally go out of your head from sickness) or, in Max’s case, dropping from the sky and landing on some poor unfortunate below – only to realize once you’ve gotten up and dusted yourself off that you’ve somehow knocked yourself out of your body and into that of the other person (whoops!).

Personally, I found the “Book of Dreams” premise to be a neat idea, but one that is not as fully explored as I had hoped. The two alternate worlds are not equally developed, which makes the flow of the story feel somewhat unbalanced. In all, I would recommend this for younger teens interested in Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy or C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, both of which employ the “parallel world” premise.

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Only Recommended If You Plan on Reading Vampire Diaries: The Return

Dark Reunion (Vampire Diaries #4) by L.J. Smith (1992; HarperCollins, 2010, 312pp.)

Months after Elena sacrifices herself to defeat a powerful foe in The Fury, her psychic friend, Bonnie, has disturbing dreams that foretell of another oncoming menace: a vicious, terrifying killer who seems to be unstoppable. Trying to decipher Elena’s clues from the beyond, she summons Stefan and Damon from Italy for help. Like its predecessors, the action is unflagging, and the villain is really creepy. Unfortunately, that’s the only good thing I can say about it. The events that wrap up the novel are confusing and left unexplained, leaving some confusion in their wake for the reader. And the ending? It’s more than disappointing--it’s painfully abysmal. I can’t go into too much detail without revealing the ending, but trust me - awful. However, if readers plan on tackling the second series in the Vampire Diaries universe - Vampire Diaries: The Return - then this volume is essential to understanding later sequels.

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Convincing Treatment of the Well-Worn Doomsday Scenario

The Faustian Host (Apocalypse Signs #1) by Dave Becker (Self-Published, 2012, 221pp.)

After his religious nutcase grandmother dies, teenage Tony Marino is sent to live with foster parents in Clement, Massachusetts, where he is given the opportunity to attend an exclusive private school. Kalos Academy is sort of like Hogwarts if Hogwarts was A) American B) a private day school C) not overtly magical and D) catered to children whose IQ is off the charts. To attend Kalos, you’ve got to be smart. Really, really smart. Class attendance is encouraged, though not required. There’s no grading system, only a pass/fail option.

Although he has a rocky start at first, Tony feels like he’s finally settling in—of course, this is before weird things start happening. In religion class, he touches an ancient scroll the teacher has on display for the students—and it bursts into flames! On a class fieldtrip to Plymouth Rock, the historical stepping stone bleeds and stains Chesapeake Bay a dark red. Later, the town of Clement is set upon by swarms of flies. Since Clement was a relatively normal little town before Tony the New Kid’s arrival, his classmates naturally think he’s cursed. But Tony doesn’t believe in that kind of nonsense. Of course, this being a fantasy story, there has to be a little bit of magic—just not the Hogwarts kind. Actually, it’s more of the Satanic-doomsday-cult kind. And the cult is after Tony.

The Faustian Host is definitely an interesting story. Becker’s descriptions of Kalos build a colorful picture of a unique academic institution that will make public school students envious, and his treatment of the well-worn doomsday scenario is convincing. However, it’s not without its flaws. The overall pace of the novel feels somewhat rushed, and the cast of supporting characters is left underdeveloped. Although apologies must be made for mentioning Harry Potter, comparisons become somewhat inevitable as the plot develops. A restless young man plucked from obscurity, Tony is sent to a special school and turns out to be “the Chosen One.” Pursued by a Death-Eater-like cult, he is later entrusted with the safekeeping of an all-powerful ancient artifact. However, despite these technical criticisms, teens eager for new urban fantasy/adventure epics will definitely enjoy what they find here. Recommended for Ages 14-16.

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A World Without Boundaries

Jersey Girl by Beth Ann Bauman (Wendy Lamb Books, 2012, 208pp.)

Angel, a teenager living on the Jersey Shore with her mother and two half siblings, has a pretty nice life. Her mother rents houses to vacationers, so they’re never short of money, and since her mother is more like her BFF than a parent, Angel is pretty much free to do as she pleases: sex, alcohol, partying on a school night. But underneath Angel’s breezy teenage veneer there’s a sense of loneliness and confusion. Without authority figures to set healthy boundaries in the lives of young people, does it become easier or harder for a teen to define her sense of self? Jersey Angel is an insightful book, full of wisdom about being young and not knowing what to do with your life. Recommended for Ages 16-Up for mature situations and rambunctious teenage behavior.

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Tess, Terrorists, and the Tiara

Tess, Terrorists, and the Tiara by Terry Baldwin (Middleton Books, 2012, 135pp.)

Fifty years ago, Tess’s grandmother became the last winner of the Miss Land of the Free pageant. Today, Grandma’s health is declining due to Alzheimer’s. Deciding to make the most of her remaining years of cognizance, Grandma decides to give her diamond tiara - the one she was crowned with - to her granddaughter. The problem is, she has two: Tess, 13, and Brianna, 16. In order to make the decision fair, she and Grandpa invite the sisters to participate in a contest during their summer visit. Whoever earns enough “Helpful Points” before school starts will win the tiara.

Poor Tess thinks her chances of winning are dismal. Her pretty older sister is smart and competent, while Tess, on the other hand, has been described by friends and family as sweet but scatter-brained, constantly distracted by an over-active imagination. Here is where the story incorporates not only “Tess” and the “Tiara,” but “Terrorists” as well. After reading an article in National Geographic about the frightening, misogynist nature of Muslim extremists, Tess notices one of the neighbors clad head-to-toe in a dark cloak, and recognizes it from the article as a burka. Putting two and two together, Tess fears that the neighbors are terrorists who are targeting her grandmother - Miss Land of the Free herself!

Baldwin’s short novel isn’t not so much about a girl encountering a different culture or religion as it is a cautionary tale about judging people at face value. It’s certainly a nice message to teach children. However, I feel that the story would have been better served if it had shown Tess exploring another culture’s traditions and values than simply act as an exercise in tolerance. Recommended for Ages 9-13.

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This review can also be found on my YA Review Site.

A YA Novel About Dealing with the Horrors of Cancer

Slipping Reality by Emily Beaver (AuthorHouse Publishing, 2011, 272pp.)

“People would think that living with a sibling with cancer ... would be tough. Drama at every corner, never getting a break from the constant trauma and stress and overall “my-life-sucksitude.” But if anyone could believe it, it wasn’t like that at all.”

Having a loved one suffer from a terminal illness isn’t as dramatic as you would think, says 14-year-old Katelyn Emerson. At least, not on a day-to-day basis. Based on the author’s own heartbreaking story, Slipping Reality chronicles the struggles of Katelyn Emerson, a 14-year-old girl whose brother is dying from cancer. She sees her life as a “purgatory”. Nothing ever changes. For the last three years, her brother’s condition has been unpleasant but endurable, so she invents two imaginary friends to keep her company: Tristan, a sage father-figure, and Cedric, his adopted son who serves as her love interest. As the weeks pass, she shrinks away from her life and deeper into the shelter of her inner world. But when Matthew’s condition takes a sudden turn for the worse, she learns the consequences of living in denial. While many readers can relate to Katelyn’s frustrations about the “boredom” of suburban living, the subject is a bit sophomoric compared to terminal illness. Once we reach the half-way mark, however, our heroine is forced to realize the true horror of her situation, and that’s when the story gets really, really good. Recommended for Ages 13-15.

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If Hogwarts Taught Spy Skills Instead of Magic, It Would Look a Lot Like This

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls #1) by Ally Carter (Hyperion Books for Children, 2006, 284pp.)

If Hogwarts were a school for young spies instead of magic, it might look a lot like the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. Fronting as a boarding school for bratty rich girls, it’s really a top-secret training school for spies. The school has hidden passageways, eccentric professors, and a rather unique curriculum, including classes in Covert Operations, Culture and Assimilation, and Protection and Enforcement (kind of like P.E., but way cooler). The heroine of the piece, Cammie “Chameleon” Morgan, is a sophomore and daughter to the headmistress, so naturally, she’s a whiz at spy stuff. When it comes to talking to guys, however, she’s clueless. So what does she do when she’s befriended by a sweet, handsome local boy? She can’t tell him anything about herself (that’s classified!), so she decides to make things up. Before long, the inevitable strains between her new boyfriend and schoolwork begin to form. Can her new beau handle the truth? With excellent world-building detail, sympathetic characters, and a strong heroine, the Gallagher Girls series makes an excellent choice for female teens looking for a new series. Recommended for Ages 13-15.

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An Amazing YA/Crossover Novel

Pure (Pure Trilogy #1) by Julianna Baggott (Grand Central Publishing, 2012, 448pp)

"We know you are here, our brothers and sisters. We will, one day, emerge from the Dome to join you in peace. For now, we watch from afar, benevolently."

Nine years after the earth is devastated from an atomic blast, the remains of civilized society huddle under a dome that overlooks a wasteland. Those who live outside the Dome are horribly disfigured mutants who live on a hand-to-mouth existence. When Partridge Willux, the next-in-line for leadership of the Dome, escapes into the poisoned wasteland to look for his mother, he meets a young mutant girl named Pressia. Together, the two begin a journey that leads them to an unexpected destiny. Pure, the first is a series, is an amazing, imaginative novel with excellent world-building details and character development. Recommended for Ages 16-18, but will also appeal to adults with an interest in dystopian fiction and science fiction.

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Not So Much a Science Fiction Piece as It Is a Romance with Sci-Fi Elements

Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls #1) by Victoria Foyt (Sand Dollar Press, 2012, 320pp.)

In a post-apocalyptic society where high levels of solar radiation have forced mankind underground and life expectancy is 40 years, seventeen-year-old Eden Newman is considered middle-aged. If she fails to find a mate by age 18, she will be turned outside to die. What’s worse, she’s a Pearl, meaning she’s light-skinned, and more likely to die of the Heat. Because those with dark skin have higher melanin levels, which protects them from being burned by the sun’s rays, Coals are the top class in society. Because of her father’s genius, Eden and Dr. Newman are both allowed to work at Resources for Environmental Adaptation, a company run by the arrogant Coal, Ronson Bramford. When Bramford uses himself as a guinea pig in an experiment that uses bits of DNA from animals that naturally live in extreme climates, he is turned into a half-man, half-jaguar creature. Forced to flee their society, they find refuge above ground with the Huaorani people, surface-dwellers who are able to survive the extreme heat.

Revealing Eden is a novel with a lot of really neat ideas in it - and the fact that it’s a YA novel is even cooler. Unfortunately, romantic tensions between Eden and Bramford dominate the plot soon after they escape to the surface world, forcing the book away from the path of interesting ideas, and turning it into a romance novel with science fiction highlights and a slightly hysterical heroine. Flawed, but definitely worth reading at least once. Recommended for Ages 16-18.

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Of Course You Know, This Means War

Alias Dragonfly (Alias Series #1) by Jane Singer (Bell Bridge Books, 2011, 178pp.)

Maddie Bradford has never been one to sit idle, and she’s worried to death about her father, a soldier in the Union army. After being sent to live in D.C. with her only other living relative, a Confederate-sympathizing aunt, she’s desperate to help bring the war to close. This is when she meets Timothy Webster, a man posing as a Rebel, who recognizes her flawless recall skills and photographic memory as excellent attributes for a spy. He invites her to become part of Allan Pinkerton’s spy ring, a real-life historical organization that first hired women to work as spies. Singer uses an interesting, little-known bit of factual history as the basis for her material. The first half of the novel is slow going, but once the action starts teens will be turning pages till the end. Recommended for teens Ages 13-15.

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Keep Calm and Carry On

The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson (Putnam Juvenile, 2011, 384pp.)

When Rory’s family relocates to England, she finds herself being registered to attend a boarding school in the East End of London - quite a ways away from her hometown in Louisiana. But while English life appears strange at first (baked beans for breakfast?!) she adjusts quickly and soon makes friends. But all is not well in London Town. Shortly after Rory’s arrival at the boarding school, a young woman is found dead close to her school’s campus. A few weeks later, a second woman is found murdered. A rumor surfaces that the two murders were done by a copycat killer who mutilates his victims in the same fashion as Jack the Ripper, a 19th century killer. Morbidly curious, Rory and her friends decide to take a peek at the second crime scene - albeit from the distance of the yellow caution tape. Here, she spies a suspicious character in the crowd who seems to take an unhealthy interest in the gruesome spectacle - but when she points him out to her friends, she’s shocked to realize that only she can see him. Is Rory going mad? Or could this be, not the work of a copycat killer, but of the original Ripper himself, back from the dead?

What I like most about Johnson’s story is how it exposes a less than flattering side of the general public. Once the police realize that they can predict the date of the “New Ripper’s” next victim, all of London is glued to their television sets, enthralled by the titillating possibility of who could be next. As one of Rory’s school friends points out:

“Jack the Ripper never called himself Jack the Ripper. The name came from a letter sent to the Central News Agency. It was a hoax, and almost definitely written by a reporter from the Star newspaper. That was the paper that made the Ripper famous. The whole thing was kind of a media creation. ... And he’s the star of the show...” (255).

Amazon has this listed as for Ages 12 and up - but I would disagree. In a way, The Name of the Star reminds me a little of Harry Potter (boarding school, London, fantastical elements), but in a good way. And although Harry Potter has it’s mild share of fantasy adventure violence, I would hesitate before handing this book to a 13-year-old. Simply put, it’s the subject matter. The story quotes descriptions of the wounds inflicted on the Ripper’s victims, though not in excess.

For those interested in reading more books like this, you will not be disappointed. The Name of the Star is the first in a series. Volume 2, The Madness Underneath, comes out in October later this year. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.

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An Interesting Read - I’m Just Not Sure It Belongs in the Young Adult Section

Tender Morsels by Margot Lanagan (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2008, 448pp.)

Depending on who you are and what you like, Tender Morsels may end up being your favorite book or a just a book you wish you’d never picked up. It takes the fairy tale of “Snow White and Rose Red” and fleshes out the characters and the world it takes place in (a synopsis of this tale can be found here.) A victim of repeated brutality, Liga, the teenage mother of two young daughters, is allowed to live in a tranquil, alternate reality created by a mysterious higher power. There, they live in prosperity, but their lives of peace are interrupted when an accident causes Liga’s world to rejoin with the real one.

Tender Morsels is not really a YA novel in the traditional sense. A young adult novel focuses on teenage characters and their problems, which can cover adult topics, but will probably not discuss them in a graphic nature. The main problem is with the story’s extreme content. Liga is repeatedly raped and impregnated by her own father (who later makes her drink teas that induce miscarriages); after her father dies, she is gang raped by a group of boys from the nearby village. While Lanagan doesn’t describe the rapes in graphic detail (she prefers to either refer to the act in hindsight, or use the “fade to black” method), she does put a fair amount of detail in the miscarriage scenes. This happens within the first few chapters.

But Lanagan’s novel is not shocking without reason. She uses Liga’s story as a method for exploring the fear of living in a brutal world, and the bravery one must show in order to survive it and live a fulfilling life. As one character says to Liga’s oldest daughter:

“[Y]ou are a living creature, born to make a real life, however it cracks your heart. However sweet that other place was, it was not real. ... [Y]ou could not have stayed there forever and called yourself alive” (356-7).

If you can make it past the first two chapters unfazed, then you should be able to finish the book (that is, if you can get past the novel’s stagnant middle section). Overall, an interesting read. I’m just not sure that it belongs in the Young Adult section. A 2009 Printz Honor Book. Recommended for Ages 16-Up.

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A More or Less Satisfying Installment - Aside From Zoey's Mind-Numbing Boy Drama

Hunted (House of Night #5) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (St. Martin’s Press, 2009, 336pp.)

Having fled the House of Night after the dark angel Kalona takes over, Zoey and friends find themselves huddled in the red fledgling stronghold under Tulsa. A few days into their self-imposed exile, a skirmish with one of Kalona’s henchmen leaves Zoey severely wounded. Knowing that she will die without proper vampyric treatment, the gang has no choice but to return to campus. How will they survive Kalona’s reign of terror, especially since he holds the entire student body and faculty in thrall? The beginning chapters move at a somewhat sluggish pace, chronicling the goings-on at Zoey’s impromptu camp, as well as a few altercations between Heath (who joins forces with Zoey’s group) and Erik (now dating Zoey again). It’s only until the characters are forced to relocate to the House of Night that the action really starts. And of course, the Casts just can’t resist throwing in a good old-fashioned love quadrangle. Zoey once again finds herself juggling two other love interests in addition to her relationship with Erik. The first is with Stark, a fledgling with a Goddess-given talent for archery, and the second is with her ex-boyfriend, Heath, Zoey’s willing blood donor who butts heads with Erik constantly. As with the Erik/Heath/Loren subplot in Book 3, the Casts spare no one when it comes to teen melodrama. But aside from Zoey’s mind-numbing boy drama, Hunted is a more or less satisfying installment in the series.

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Plot Develops, But Majority of Characters Don’t

Untamed (House of Night #4) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008, 352pp.)

After the disastrous events that brought book three to a close, Zoey’s life is going a little better. She’s back on speaking terms with her friends, and Stevie Rae is back to her sweet old self. The gang is even starting to get along (sort of) with Aphrodite, Zoey’s surprising new ally. But as seen from the end of Chosen, danger is just beginning. Aphrodite has a vision that delivers a terrifying prophecy: a dark angel known as Kalona is predicted to rise after centuries of imprisonment and enslave woman-kind. What to do?! The mystery that builds around the legend of Kalona is what primarily drives the plot of this installment, and it’s definitely to the authors’ credit that the Cherokee-inspired mythos of the series just keeps getting better the deeper they delve into it. But Untamed, like the books before it, has its problems. With the exception of Aphrodite and Stevie Rae, Zoey’s circle of friends remain nothing more than a host of underdeveloped groupies. Rather than take the time to explore these characters, the Casts continue to treat them as props, relying on the same gags and trademark banter they’ve used as before: Damien wows the others with his extensive vocabulary, and his boyfriend, Jack, is so opaquely fey that it’s embarrassing. Not to mention joined-at-the-hip roomies Erin and Shaunee. What do we know about them? Well, we know that one girl is white, one girl is black, and they both love shopping for shoes. Oh, and they finish each other’s sentences. A lot. After such behavior for three (going on four) books, it’s surprising that they haven’t physically fused into one person. The verdict? The Casts continue to develop a series rich with intrigue and world-building details, but many of the characters leave much to be desired.

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A Series That's Turning Out To Be As Addictive As Candy - And Just As Nutritious For Young, Impressionable Minds

Chosen (House of Night #3) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008, 320pp.)

In Chosen, the third installment in the House of Night series, Zoey Redbird tries to help her best friend, Stevie Rae (who has recently become “undead,” for a lack of a better word), return to her lovely old self. Her attempts to restore her friend’s humanity at whatever cost is very sweet, engaging, and makes for a good story. Unfortunately, the quality of the novel as a whole is off-set by the other accompanying storylines, including a somewhat questionable subplot involving Zoey and her three love interests: Erik Night, her “official” boyfriend; Heath, her human ex who’s still in love with her; and Loren, a handsome professor who takes a not-so-scholarly interest in her. Like its predecessors, Chosen is a book buoyed with a few good ideas, but is made lopsided by the weight of its flaws. It sometimes resorts to stereotypes, and very often choses the melodramatic over the realistic. Christians, here, are portrayed as little more than narrow-minded idiots. When Zoey’s fundamentalist mother and stepfather make their first, and only, appearance in the story, they start spouting Bible verses and fire-and-brimstone rhetoric like there’s no tomorrow. Zoey, meanwhile, is allowed to stand by feeling smug, secure in the knowledge that she is light-years ahead of them with her hip New Age beliefs. The Casts also show little to no dexterity in handling the matter of Zoey’s love life. The traditional “torn between two” plot device is a little threadbare, but at least plausible. The fact that Zoey is being courted not only by two guy friends, but also one of her professors, is ridiculous. The fact that she ends up giving her virginity to one of these love interests, and then later walks in on him gloating about his conquest with her worst enemy - while they’re in bed together - leads one to suspect that the authors have never encountered the concept of subtlety before, either.

I have surely voiced enough complaints to turn some readers away from the series. However - despite its numerous flaws, predictable Mary Sue elements, and teen melodrama, the House of Night series has a tendency to grow on you. This is due mostly in part to two characters who truly stand out from the rest: Stevie Rae and Aphrodite. Stevie Rae, a sensitive, cowboy boot-wearing teen with a tender heart (she cries during Lifetime movies), she’s really the ideal best friend any adolescent girl could ask for. Aphrodite, on the other hand, Zoey’s Queen Bee adversary, is evolving from the flat villainess seen in Book 1 into an interesting, out-spoken young woman with more beneath the surface than previously suspected. So, thanks to a combination of limited POV narration (to maintain mystery and suspense), a well-developed (if not exactly mind-blowing) fantasy world, and some surprisingly memorable characters, the cliff-hanger ending of Chosen will have interested readers springing for the next volume. So, to those interested in pursuing the series further, more power to you. It’s not an outstanding series, but it certainly is turning out to be almost as addictive as candy - and just as nutritious for young, impressionable minds. Recommended for Ages 16-18 for language and brief sexual content.

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The Drama Continues...

Betrayed (House of Night #2) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009, 320pp.)

In this second volume of the House of Night series, Zoey Redbird’s life has finally taken a turn for the better. She’s doing well in school, has lots of new friends, and can rest easy with the comfort that Neferet, the school’s headmistress, is there to be a second mother to her whenever she needs it. But good times never last, do they? The death knell of her happiness comes when human teenagers from her old high school start turning up dead. In addition to this, one of her friends dies when her body rejects the Change. Then another shows a surprising change of allegiance, and Zoey’s love life gets really, really complicated. The “betrayal” that gives this installment its name is an surprising twist that guarantees the reader’s continuing interest in the series, but it happens a little too quickly. There is not enough subtlety in the pacing of events to allow one to feel satisfied (in other words, there’s no ah ha! moment). As for the love triangle (or is it quadrangle?), only one of the three possible romances holds any dimension. Zoey already has an “official” boyfriend at school (classmate Erik), but now she has to contend with mixed feelings for her dopey yet faithful human ex, Heath, and the undeniable physical chemistry she feels with Loren, House of Night’s deeply romantic poet laureate. Of the three, her relationship with Heath is the one that rings truest. Not only do these two have a long history together (they were childhood sweethearts), Heath is also one of the few people from her human life that continues to show her love and support, despite the uncomfortable fact that she’s now a vampyre. Her romance with Erik, meanwhile, feels a little flat, and the sexual tension that springs up whenever the poet laureate enters the room is hard to take seriously. Recommended for Ages 16-18.

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Fans Will Not Be Disappointed

The Fury (Vampire Diaries #3) by L.J. Smith (1991; HarperCollins, 2010, 304pp.)

After her car runs off the road into the river, Elena is none too happy to find herself resurrected as a vampire. However, she has little time to feel sorry for herself. Evil seems to be brewing in Fell’s Church, a ghastly, mysterious force that causes pets to attack their owners, and turns close friends into sinister strangers. Now stronger as a vampire than she ever was as a human, Elena is determined to protect her home town against this nameless menace. She begs Stefan and Damon to look past their differences and work together, but getting these two rivals to trust each other may be the hardest task of all. Fans won’t be disappointed by this one. The story is brisk and engaging, and ends with a surprise twist that brings the original trilogy to a satisfying close. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.

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Nothing New Here

Marked (House of Night #1) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007, 320pp.)

“Zoey Montgomery! Night has chosen thee; thy death will be thy birth. Night calls to thee; hearken to Her sweet voice. Your destiny awaits you at the House of Night!”

Imagine a world where monsters are an accepted reality. Imagine, too, that in this world, children undergo an alarming change. No longer are they the sweet-tempered cherubs you have come to treasure, but dark, brooding creatures that wreak havoc in the lives of others and have the habit of sleeping during the day. What are they? No, not teenagers (though you’re not far from the mark if that was your guess): vampires. Welcome to the world of Zoey Redbird, a place not so different from our own: bullies pick on nerds, parents and children fail to understand each other, and the high school “in” crowd takes particular joy in excluding outsiders from social activities. The only notable difference is that the word “vampires” is spelled with a “y,” and teenagers have the nasty habit of turning into these bloodsucking creatures without warning. This “Change,” occurring only during adolescence, is caused by a confusing mix of mutant DNA and hormones. When Zoey comes down with a particularly bad case of it, her horrified family and friends turn on her. She takes refuge at the House of Night, an exclusive boarding school for vampyres, where she makes a friends, enemies, and a name for herself.

Unfortunately, her story isn’t a very remarkable one. It borrows elements from a number of successful fantasy sagas, and more or less reads like an American Harry Potter: lonely, friendless protagonist discovers that s/he has magical powers and gets to attend a school for magic where students wear elaborately designed school uniforms. To the protagonist’s surprise, s/he turns out to have an outstanding talent for magic, despite the fact that s/he has had no formal training. In addition, the protagonist acquires, upon immediate arrival, an arrogant, blond-haired nemesis with inappropriate levels of hostility towards non-magic users. To top this all off, Zoey has a “mark” on her forehead, a crescent moon-shaped tattoo indicative of the Change. So: is this just another exercise in teenage wish-fulfillment? You bet. But like the countless other offerings in the YA vampire romance genre, it serves as a sufficient mode of escapism. Why else should we read, if not to escape reality?

However, a word of warning: although this novel will doubtless appeal to the legions of readers suffering from post-bestselling-fantasy-saga syndrome, this series is more appropriate for the Ages 16-18 bracket. Aside from its frequent use of strong language and sexual references (we first meet Zoey’s chief rival, Aphrodite, in a public hallway trying to force her ex-boyfriend to accept a sexual favor), the novel’s themes will be better appreciated by those about to graduate from high school. The change of scene from the human world to the House of Night mirrors the what an average teen experiences during the transition from high school, where loneliness and uncertainties abound, to college, where most outcasts finally find their “niche.” Marked, the first book in the House of Night series, will appeal to any teen who has ever found themselves bored, friendless, or lonely, and transports them from this mundane world of ours into a land of night where good friends abound, rivals are two-dimensional and unworthy of your presence, and hot vampyre guys have eyes only for you.

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A Heartwarming and Hilarious Tale That Will Appeal To All Ages

The Not-So-Great Depression: In Which the Economy Crashes, My Mom Goes Broke, My Sister’s Plans Are Ruined, My Dad Grows Vegetables, and I Do Not Get A Hamster by Amy Goldman Koss (Roaring Brook Press, 2010, 266pp.)

Ninth grader Jacki couldn’t care less about the “Great Recession” that’s affecting the entire country. All she cares about is watching cute animal videos on YouTube and hanging out with her best friend. But when her mom loses her job, she’s in for a major wake-up call. Suddenly, she and her sibs have no nanny to pick them up after school. There’s no gardener to cut the grass, no maid to clean up after them, and they just might have to sell their house! How will her family survive? Flanked by a lively, well-rounded supporting cast, Jacki proves to be a quirky, charming, and memorable heroine with a fresh, original voice. This heartwarming and hilarious tale set in the current economic crisis is one that will appeal to all ages. Recommended for Ages 13-15.

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Zombies vs. Unicorns! What More Could You Want?

Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (Margaret K. McElderry, 2010, 432pp.)

First, there was the strange yet intriguing debate of Pirates vs. Ninjas. Now, editors Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier present Zombies vs. Unicorns, an anthology of six zombie stories and six unicorn stories selected to answer that ages-old question: do the undead have what it takes to beat those one-horned wimps to the title of “fan favorite”? Or will the power of rainbows wipe the floor with our brain-munching friends? The anthology consists of a wide variety of interpretations on these creatures. Although some of the usual stereotypes may appear, let it be known that the unicorns won’t always be tame and sparkly (Diana Peterfreund’s “The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn”), and the zombies won’t always be mindless drones (Alaya Dawn Johnson’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”).

There are some stories here that truly shine. The gems of this collection rely on strong characters and creative twists, instead of using the mythical creatures of choice as the main attraction. Zombie-lover authors Cassandra Clare (“Cold Hands”) and Carrie Ryan (“Bougainvillea”) deliver dark, traditional stories; Alaya Dawn Johnson serves up an intense but playful zombie love story (“Love Will Tear Us Apart”), while Maureen Johnson pokes fun at celebrity adoption and Scientology in “The Children of the Revolution,” the comedic horror story of a young woman who is hired by an Angelina Jolie-type actress to keep watch over her horde of adopted zombie children. Naomi Novik’s irreverent unicorn tribute, “Purity Test,” is nicely complemented by Meg Cabot’s “Princess Prettypants,” a sweet, earnest, and riotously funny teen romance reminiscent of The Princess Diaries. Unfortunately, this anthology proves to be a mixed bag in terms of quality. The outstanding stories are accompanied by mediocre duds that take themselves too seriously (see Scott Westerfeld’s “Inoculata,” Garth Nix’s “The Highest Justice,” and Diana Peterfreund’s “The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn”). Margo Lanagan’s “A Thousand Flowers” recounts a flat, rather two-dimensional romance between a unicorn and a princess; Kathleen Duey’s “The Third Virgin,” offers a strange but uninteresting twist on the interaction between the world’s only unicorn and the unsuspecting virgins that stumble across its path. The last piece in the anthology, Libba Bray’s “Prom Night,” depicts life in a town taken over by kids after their parents turn into zombies, and is about as full of potential as a flat tire. While you may find yourself skimming through some of the stories, most pieces are guaranteed to be entertaining (if not exactly original or thought-provoking). Recommended for Ages 16-Up for use of Language, Violence, and Suggestive Situations.

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Sequel Proves to be Major Improvement Over Predecessor

The Struggle (Vampire Diaries #2) by L.J. Smith (1991; HarperCollins, 2010, 304pp.)

Caught in a battle of wills between two vampire brothers, willful mortal Elena struggles to support Stefan after he’s accused of murder, while at the same time fighting off the affections of Damon, Stefan’s devious and devilishly attractive older sibling. As if she doesn’t have enough trouble on her hands, rival and former friend Caroline steals her diary and plans to use its contents against her. After the slow, plodding pace of The Awakening, The Struggle proves to be a major improvement. Now that Stefan and Elena’s relationship has been established, the story is free to move forward to more interesting things--such as fleshing out the supporting cast and building character development. Elena’s devotion to Stefan is touching and brings strength to her character, while Damon’s pursuit of Elena--alternately tormenting her and wooing her--makes him both villainous and sexy. The Caroline subplot entwines nicely with the Damon/Stefan subplot, creating enough momentum to keep the story speeding forward to its cliff-hanger conclusion. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.

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High Adventure and Romance in a Solid YA Fantasy

The Iron King (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen, 2010, 368pp.)

After her baby brother is kidnapped by evil faeries, high school outcast Meghan travels deep into the heart of the Nevernever to bring him back, encountering fantastical beasts, jealous faery queens, and true love. Drawing heavily on traditional lore, Kagawa’s richly imagined fantasy world provides a lovely backdrop to the story, while delightful supporting characters flank the novel’s rather average leading lady. Although there is very little objectionable material to bar this from a younger audience, (the love story is sweet and mild-tempered, and the level of fantasy violence is to be expected), the novel’s sporadic use of strong language (the worst instance is when a faery tells someone to “F*** off!”) may act as a deterrent to sensitive readers. Non-stop action and elements of high adventure and romance make this tale of teenage heroines a solid entry in YA fantasy. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.

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Not the Best, But Provides a Nice Message

Cut by Patricia McCormick (Scholastic, 2000, 168pp.)

Callie is sent to a treatment facility after her parents discover that she’s been cutting herself. After a while, she finally opens up to her psychiatrist and begins to re-examine the fragile home environment that prompted her distress. Although not as powerful as others of its kind in the “teen issues/bibliotherapy” genre, the message that Cut provides is a heartwarming one: we all have the power to change our situation, if we only are willing to take the initiative. Despite the novel’s short length, McCormick provides a solid picture of life at the facility and lets us get to know its inhabitants. The one problem-character that stands out, however, is the character of Amanda. A cutter like Callie herself, she is so unrepentant of her cutting compulsion that she seems to have been planted by the author as the persona of temptation. She often tries to draw Callie into discussions of different ways to cut oneself, and she even goes so far as to proudly display her scars to the other patients (she has the words “life sucks” carved into her arms). Sound edgy? It’s a little uncomfortable to read at times, but compared to other works, shouldn’t be too intense for younger teens. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.

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Offers Nothing New to Genre, But Will Still Appeal to Vampire Romance Fans

The Awakening (Vampire Diaries #1) by L.J. Smith (1991; HarperTeen, 2009, 272pp.)

Elena, the queen bee of her high school, is confused when the new boy, Stefan, shows no interest in her whatsoever. What she doesn’t know is that although Stefan secretly carries a torch for her, he can’t bear for her to learn his terrible secret: he’s a centuries-old vampire! When Elena eventually finds out the truth herself, the two admit their feelings for each other and try to build up a relationship. Things get dicey when Stefan’s evil brother, Damon, shows up in town, and decides to steal our heroine away for himself. Sound familiar? Despite its Twilight undertones, The Vampire Diaries actually precedes Meyer’s sparkly vampires by at least a decade. Pushed into reprint by the rising interest in vampire literature, this book unfortunately offers nothing new to the genre. To make matters worse, it’s littered with characters that are both flat and uninteresting, and contains plot twists that the reader can see coming a mile away. However, teen readers looking to sink their teeth into more vampire romance will definitely find what they’re looking for here. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.

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Have You Heard...?

Gossip Girl (Gossip Girl #1) by Cecily von Ziegesar (Poppy, 2002, 199pp.)

Rumor has it that Nate, who’s dating Blair, is really in love with Serena, but then again, who isn’t? Serena, the “It” Girl of the whole Upper East Side of Manhattan, is more or less perfect (maybe too perfect, some say). According to Blair, (the jealous, ex-best-friend of Serena), she got kicked out of her European boarding school for cutting class, peddling drugs, sleeping around, you name it. Some say she had a baby in France and left it to be raised by an au pair, says Chuck, one of NYC’s adolescent jet set last seen in the ladies’ room at last night’s party feeling up Jenny, Blair and Serena’s classmate with the DD bra size. But Dan, a Beatnik loner with a crush on Serena, doesn’t believe a word of the gossip on his golden girl. Vanessa, however, an aspiring filmmaker with a thing for Leo Tolstoy and her friend Dan, is beginning to have her doubts. Von Ziegesar creates a cast of characters that seem superficial at first, but develop into surprisingly likable people (most of them, anyway). The narrative is a shallow one with more than its fair share of laughs, but wraps up a bit too abruptly for any of the relationship problems to be solved in a realistic manner. All that aside, this giggly, gossipy first volume of the best-selling series is sure to impress teen girls with a taste for chick lit. Recommended for Ages 16-18 for sexual content and rambunctious adolescent behavior.

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A Beastly Read

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli (Atheneum, 2000, 272pp.)

Most readers know how the story of Beauty and the Beast turns out (cursed prince must win the love of lady to become human again and succeeds), but how it all began is a completely different matter. Here, at last, the Beast's origins are revealed. Prince Orasmyn is a Persian prince with a fondness for reading and gardening--especially roses. But when he angers a vindictive fairy and is turned into a lion, she tells him that his only hope of breaking the curse is to win the unconditional love of a woman. The author's integration of Persian culture into this popular fairy tale works splendidly. Sadly, everything that occurs after Orasmyn's transformation is just not very interesting: he hunts for prey and he (tries to) hang out with other lions. At some point, he decides to go to--where else?--France to search for his one true love. His angst over Belle's acceptance quickly becomes annoying, and Belle, who appears a mere 60 pages before the story's end, doesn't get the time she deserves to develop into a well-rounded character. While the story does have its sweet moments, too few of them are with Belle. For a work of such amazing potential, finishing Beast proves to be a chore. Recommended for Ages 13-15.

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