An Excellent Space Opera from Divergent Author Roth

Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1) by Veronica Roth

On the frozen planet of Thuvhe, both native Thuvhesits and their conquerors, the Shotet, worship the universal current that blesses them with current-gifts. Shotet warrior-princess Cyra Noavek’s deadly talent is used by her ruthless brother, Ryzek, to torture his enemies—a gift that also leaves her in constant, excruciating agony. When Ryzek hears that Akos, a Thuvhesit farm-boy, can neutralize the current-gift of others, he removes him from his family and brings him to the palace to act as companion and cure-all for Cyra. As the two grow from reluctant acquaintances to fast friends, a flurry of activity from the surrounding cast of characters slowly drives the plot forward, culminating in a revolt against Ryzek’s power. 

Veronica Roth’s latest is a lot to take in, and is as different from her bestselling debut, Divergent, as day is from night. While Divergent is a flawed dystopian tale, an obvious first novel told by a talented yet inexperienced novice, Carve the Mark is something else entirely. It’s a soaring space opera peopled by complex characters, with a believable story-universe made all the more real by intricate world-building details. The action is a bit slow to build, but since the author takes pains to establish necessary backstory before moving on to the real meat of the narrative, this is a forgivable flaw. The verdict: while Divergent fans may not find this latest work to their liking, fans of space operas will definitely love it. Recommended for Gr 9 Up for violence and language.

Kiss Me in New York

Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rider

Kiss Me is a love story that starts with a chance encounter in the JFK airport. After commiserating over their recently ended relationships, two strangers, British-born Charlotte and New Yorker Anthony, decide to spend Charlotte’s 17-hour layover by fulfilling the tasks suggested in a cheesy self-help book for Getting Over Your Ex. As they embark upon each task, they end up touching not only each other’s lives, but the lives of others who have found themselves alone on Christmas Eve. At only 200 pages, this is a brisk, merry romp through the YA rom-com genre that makes for perfect bedtime reading during the holidays. Recommended for Gr 8 Up for some language.

Through the Woods: Stories by Emily Carroll

Through the Woods: Stories by Emily Carroll

In this lavish collection of chilling tales, an orphaned girl watches as her sisters are called to the side of a shadowy stranger; a new bride is plagued by the song of her ghostly predecessor; a murdered brother won’t stay dead; a pair of fake psychics is haunted by a vision only one of them can see; and a girl learns that her seemingly perfect sister-in-law has a creepy, crawly secret. Told with picture-book simplicity and illustrated in loving detail, this graphic novel is unique, surreal, and frightening. While Carroll uses some brilliant visual technique to imply any violence that happens off-screen, readers who aren’t normally horror buffs should use caution when browsing this collection—it is definitely not for the faint of heart. Recommended Gr 8 Up.

Like No Other

Like No Other by Una LaMarche

Neither Devorah, a Hasidic Jew, nor Jaxon, the son of Caribbean immigrants, are natural-born risk-takers—but that all changes when they get stuck together in an elevator. Although they’re only trapped for a short while, each makes an indelible impression on the other, so much so that when they run into each other again, they decide to risk it all be together. Can they overcome their family’s prejudices to maintain this fragile first love? Authentic first-person voices, important lessons about love and relationships, and intriguing insight into Hadisic and immigrant culture make this a definite win for the We Need Diverse Books movement. Recommended for Gr 9 Up for language.

A Sumptuously Written Love Story

The Wrath & the Dawn (Saga of Shahrzad and Khalid, #1) by Renée Ahdieh

Khalid, the young Caliph of Khorasan, has a rather horrifying habit. Each night, he takes a girl to wife, only to have her strangled the next morning. The feisty Shahrzad, whose best friend was the most recent of these ill-fated brides, plans to break this deadly cycle by marrying, and then murdering, this teenaged monster. As the end of her wedding night approaches, she turns to storytelling in order to stave off her imminent demise. Although initially irritated by this ruse, Khalid can’t help but be intrigued by this clever new wife—and allows her to continue her stories for several more weeks. As she waits for just the right moment to strike, Shahrzad not only learns of the tragic curse that holds sway over Khalid, but also gets to know the man behind the monster. Little does she know that as she struggles between this new-found romance and her duty as an assassin, her friends and family are mounting a secret rescue mission to save her life, one that could, unintentionally, threaten the stability of the kingdom. Endearing side characters, a sweet romance, and lush descriptions of food, setting, and dress make for a sumptuous, well-written fairy tale. The only down side to the novel is that the author ends the story abruptly, leaving nothing resolved. This is probably because it’s Book 1 of a duology, leading me to believe that the publisher intended readers to consume Wrath and its sequel, The Rose & the Dagger, as a single work, rather than as two separate books in a series. This leaves readers torn between two choices: they can either immediately spring for part 2 (The Rose & the Dagger), or, if they’re not that taken with the story, simply accept the lack of closure and savor the work as it is: a beautifully written love story with an unsatisfying ending. Recommended for Grades 9 Up for fantasy violence, some language, and mature romantic content.

Stirring Memoir of an Iranian Childhood

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Persepolis, #1) by Marjane Satrapi

This graphic memoir documents the Iranian childhood of Marjane Satrapi, the only child of Marxist parents. Beginning with the Islamic revolution of 1979, the author uses black and white drawings in a simple comic-strip format to invoke Iran’s tumultuous history, from prehistory days, to the eventual overthrow of the Shah and the triumph of the restrictive Islamic regime. At the heart of this memoir, however, is Marjane’s beloved family. Her supportive parents, grandmother, and relatives are as endearing as the spirited, outspoken young girl who narrates their family’s story. Persepolis came to the silver screen in 2007, and was named a New York Times Notable Book. Recommended for Gr 9 Up for language and violence.

Sensitive Readers Beware: "Deogratias" is Truly Disturbing

Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda by J.P. Stassen

Stassen documents the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda through the eyes of the title character, Deogratias, a member of the Hutu ethnicity. The story begins with the massacre’s aftermath: Deogratias, traumatized by the recent past, wanders from place to place like a disturbed animal, even imagining at times that he’s a dog. As the narrative progresses, the reader pieces together fragments to reveal the horrifying truth. While Stassen doesn’t show the violence as it happens, his depiction of a murdered woman towards the end of the book proves to be disturbing enough. With its vibrant colors and its gut-wrenching content, Stassen’s work will leave the reader feeling unsettled long after the story is finished. Originally published in France, Deogratias won YALSA’s Great Graphic Novel Award, and was named one of ALA’s Best Book for Young Adults. A helpful introduction provides readers with a brief history of Rwanda, its colonization by the French, and the political factors that paved the road to genocide. Recommended for Gr 10 Up for language, sexual content, and violence.

All Staggering, Moaning, and Drooling Toxic Spit, But No Bite

Source: Author Website

The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks, with art by Ibraim Roberson
 
Max Brooks, author of the popular Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead, provides the text for this imaginary take on how zombies influenced the course of history. (Did you know Hadrian’s Wall was built to keep out zombies, not Scots? That Egyptians removed the brains of their dead to prevent them from rising again as zombies? That even Sir Francis Drake had an undocumented run-in with some zombies on the high seas?) Unfortunately, while Recorded Attacks gains points for creativity, it loses them for lack of substance. This graphic “novel” (if one could call it that) doesn’t really tell a story, or even provide characters for us to follow. Instead, it presents a collection of anecdotes, using realistic pencil illustrations and text boxes to provide the reader with suggestions of how and why history happened as it did if there zombies really existed. A good try, but unfortunately doesn’t play out to its full potential. Recommended for Gr 9 Up for zombie violence and some nudity.

Not As Good As "Persepolis," But Still Worth A Look

Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi

The author of the popular Persepolis returns with another gem to the genre. Satrapi uses her trademark black and white drawings to construct a tragic portrait of her great uncle, Nasser Ali Khan, a famous tar player (resembles a lute) who pined away after his wife destroyed his prized instrument in a fit of rage. Although the protagonist’s story is not nearly as endearing as the one charted by Persepolis’ spunky heroine, fans of Satrapi’s earlier work will find themselves entertained nonetheless. Recommended for Gr 9 Up for language and some nudity.

Informative But Slow

Che: A Graphic Biography by Sid Jacobson, with art by Ernie Colón

Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the infamous and elusive Communist revolutionary, was only 39 when he was executed in 1967. Bet he didn’t imagine that his memory and devotion to the cause would still be around decades later, sported on T-shirts worn by angry, rebellious teenagers. Realistic pen and ink drawings construct a surprisingly objective portrait of this controversial figure, but its saving grace is also its downfall. Jacobson and Colón leave very little feeling on the page. Facts are reported and speeches and letters quoted in a cold, clean fashion that’s reminiscent of a history textbook. Jacobson frequently goes on tangents into background information that, while important to understanding the subject, is positively painful to wade through. Although very informative, this slow-moving biography is often in danger of killing the reader’s interest in its fascinating subject. Readers should press on, however: things pick up around the middle, so finishing it becomes much easier. Although it’s not a complete bore, it sure gets close to it. Recommended for Gr 9 Up for violence.

Beautiful Adaptation of Modern Classic

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Tim Hamilton

In Guy Montag’s world, firemen have always started fires, not prevented them. Books, declared illegal for the ideas they represent, are promptly destroyed whenever found. Those caught hoarding books are arrested, while their books are burned along with their houses. So what happened when one of these firemen brings a book home out of curiosity? How can he escape from an oppressive society where watching television and popping pills are the only encouraged form of entertainment? First envisioned in Bradbury’s 1953 novel, Hamilton’s adaptation brings this passionate defense of reading and ideas roaring to life. Montag’s surreal, nightmarish world emerges on the page in the form of vibrant ink drawings, with the bold, primary colors of the firemen’s infernos often clashing with the soft, sepia tones of the domestic world. Those who have trouble with Bradbury’s writing style will have no trouble getting through this beautiful adaptation. Recommended for ages 16-Up for mature themes and some violence.

Not Terrible, But Certainly Disappointing

Bloody Chester by J.T. Petty. Illus by Hilary Florido (First Second, 2012, 160pp.)

Set somewhere in the Old West, Bloody Chester follows the story of Chester Kates, a ragged teenage waif who’s always falling in and out of bar fights. After one particular scrape, a man from the railroad company plucks him from the gutter, gives him clothes, a gun, and a mission: burn the neighboring town of Whale to the ground to make way for the brand new rail-line. When he reaches the town in question, however, he finds plague victims littering the streets, and a dead man with a sign around his neck that reads: Coyote Waits. Three survivors are all that remain: Caroline, a young woman whose father has fled to the hills, Father Goodnight, the ailing town priest, and Potter, his dimwitted adopted son. Despite Chester’s urgings, the three refuse to leave. Caroline is waiting for her father’s return, and the priest, who has just come down with the “heathen plague,” has quarantined himself and is determined to die alone for the betterment of mankind. As Chester continues his efforts to lead them to safety, he soon discovers the true horror of the plague’s origin.

Bloody Chester isn’t a terrible graphic novel, but when all is said and done, it’s a pretty big disappointment. Petty employs some big themes, like the corruptness of Western men and the savagery of modern progress. He even goes so far as to suggest that the “heathen plague” is brought upon Whale by moral corruption, not actual disease--which, coupled with the Old West setting, is pretty cool at first. Unfortunately, the author abandons his exploration of these “big themes” in order to pursue a confusing series of convoluted plot twists that left me thinking, “I’ve read better.” Much, much better. Recommended for Ages 16-18 for Language.

A Nice Opening Act To Continuing The Series

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8), Vol. 1: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon. Illus by Georges Jeanty (Dark Horse, 2007, 136pp.)

“The thing about changing the world...once you do it, the world’s all different.”

A lot has changed in the Buffyverse since the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended in 2003. Now, instead of there being one Chosen Slayer, there are 1,800 of them. In addition to this, wicked witch Amy has teamed up with a skinless, reanimated Warren from Season 6. Oh, and did I mention that the United States Armed Forces is out for Buffy’s head?
 
Where the TV seasons were made of 22 episodes, this graphic novel “season” is made up of eight volumes. There’s not much I can say about The Long Way Home. While not exactly emotionally engaging, it still exhibits the series’ trademark quirkiness, and acts as a nice foundation stone for continuing a much beloved series, albeit in a different genre.

Showcases Faith's Nonconventional Nature, While Advances the Plot on Twilight

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8), Vol. 2: No Future For You by Brian K. Vaughan and Joss Whedon. Illus by Georges Jeanty (Dark Horse, 2008, 120pp.)

“The final triumph of the base humans over the demons. It’s your life’s goal achieved, slayer. The death of magic.”

In the first story of this volume, “No Future For You,” Giles recruits Faith on a secret mission to take out high-class Slayer, Lady Genevieve, who kills weaker Slayers for sport. Faith strikes up a surprising friendship with her intended target, but finds herself conflicted when Lady Genevieve declares her intentions to kill Buffy. She’s always felt second-best when it comes to perfect Buffy, but will she stand by and let her on-again, off-again ally be slain? “No Future For You” probes Faith’s complicated character, showcasing her non-conventional nature, while highlighting her secret desire for acceptance.

In the second story, “Anywhere But Here,” Buffy and Willow seek mystical guidance to the series’ current Big Bad, Twilight. His goal? To bring about the death of all magic. While this story definitely moves the overall plot forward, it’s somewhat confusing, in that it mentions things that make me wonder if I missed something from the first volume. Despite these shortcomings, it’s a pretty entertaining volume overall, and makes me want to move on to Volume 3.

Adventures of a Stand-Out 21st Century Heroine

Faith, Vol. 1: Hollywood and Vine by Jody Houser. Illus by Francis Portela and Marguerite Sauvage (Valiant Comics, 2016, 112pp.)

Faith Herbert: daydreamer, pop culture geek, and plus-sized super-heroine. In a world where her superhero ex-boyfriend, Torque, makes millions with his own reality TV show, Faith quietly chooses to pay the rent as a mild-mannered entertainment blogger at Zipline. On her own time,  she takes to the skies searching for ways to help out humanity, even if it is just busting a gang of jerks trying to steal puppies from a shelter. But now someone’s kidnapping psiots, other superheroes like herself, and her determination to save them just might blow her cover.

I have to say, I was very impressed with Faith. In addition to being a real sweetie, she’s also a good role model. She knows how to stand up for herself, and seems genuinely comfortable with both her body-type and herself as a person. In other words, she’s stand-out 21st century heroine. Aside from one instance of bad language (a bad guy uses a well-known slang term for urination), there’s very little objectionable content, making this a perfect fit for teen readers, Ages 13-Up.

Well-Meaning, But Lack of Subtlety Dampens Overall Quality

Stereotypical Freaks (Forever Friends #1) by Howard Shapiro. Illus by Joe Pekar (Animal Media Group, 2012, 140pp.)

Senior class misfits Tom and Dan want to participate in their school’s Battle of the Bands. Dan plays a mean bass, and Tom is a whiz on both guitar and keyboard—but two people, unfortunately, don’t a band make. They still need a drummer and at least one more guitarist if they want a chance at beating the competition. That's when Tom reaches out to Mark, a former friend and now star athlete, for his mad guitar skills. Later, they’re joined by exchange student Jacoby, who proves to be formidable on the drums. And so is born a new band, the “Stereotypical Freaks.” As the night of the competition draws close, the four boys revel in their awesome new sound—until one of them comes forward with a heartbreaking secret. Will misunderstanding and tragedy unmoor their new-found sense of comradery? Or will it bring them closer together?

Oh, where to begin? The thing I liked most about this graphic novel were the lists of suggested songs at the beginning of each chapter. Since I was reading this as a galley on my computer, I was able to go to YouTube and listen to the songs as I read, which was really a nice touch. Supporters of the We Need Diverse Books movement will also be pleased by the inclusion of minority characters as key players in the story. Mark is black and has two mothers, while Jacoby is Inuit. However, that's where my praise ends. Although it’s a nice, well-meaning story with an important message, it also tends to suffer from preachiness and lack of subtlety. When the boys are discussing possibilities for their new band name, Tom muses: 

“The name should be unique to us...who we are, what we are. And when people look at us I think they see four, I guess for lack of a better word, stereotypes… We have a brainiac, a goof with zero social skills […], an African-American football star and a tiny and very shy foreign exchange student… To them, that is who we are. The truth is, we’re not the stereotypes they define us as. In a way we are freaks...because we're not who we’re perceived as.”

This is where, as a writer, I’m going to on my creativity high horse and point out that in a good story, readers should be able to pick up on themes by themselves. If a story requires direct intervention by the writer, then the story isn’t as strong as it could be. And unfortunately, I think that’s the case here. Recommended for older teens, ages 16-Up.

Review: A Charmed Life: A Christian Fiction Trilogy (for All Readers), by Jenny B. Jones

A Charmed Life (The Charmed Life #1-3) by Jenny B. Jones (Thomas Nelson, 2012, 976pp.)

A Charmed Life is an omnibus edition of Jenny B. Jones’s Christian fiction trilogy of the same name. This lovely series documents the hilarious, heartfelt misadventures of privileged New Yorker Bella Kirkwood, a child of divorce who finds herself living on a farm after her mother remarries and moves them to Truman, Oklahoma. To Bella, moving away from New York is a fate worse than death. Where are the fashion boutiques? What about a Starbucks? Not to mention she now has to hitch a ride to school with her obnoxious stepbrother, Budge, who drives an out-dated hearse. But when she ends up on the Truman High School newspaper, she surprises the heck out of everyone with her tenacity, her drive, and above all, her awesome investigative journalism skills. Over the course of the series, she becomes quite the sleuth. Not only does she investigate a malevolent brotherhood of football players and save a prom queen from an exploding tiara, she also joins the circus as a part-time clown so she can solve the murder of a sweet-tempered bearded lady.

I really can’t say enough about this series, for both teens and parents. First off, it’s a clean read, meaning there’s no swearing or other mature content (though Bella does have a boyfriend, so there is a lot of kissing). Second, it boasts a well-developed supporting cast. And third, but importantly, it has a heroine who experiences tremendous personal growth throughout the series. Not only must she face issues left over from her parents’ divorce (in addition to adjusting to a new stepfamily), she must also come to terms with God’s plan for her—a plan that she did not agree to, thank you very much! For those of you who aren’t usually fans of Christian fiction? You should still add this to your reading list. While religion is an important part of the characters’ lives, it’s certainly not the main point of the story. What the story is about, though? It’s about an awesome, spunky teenager fighting her way through life’s sticky situations, and being the best person she can possibly be. This series is recommended for older teens, ages 16-18, though if you’ve got younger teens who don’t mind kissing and romance, it’s a good choice for them as well. Also, check out the excellent audiobook version, read by Brooke Helman.

"The Bachelor" Meets the Dystopian Fantasy Genre

Source: Author Website

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass (HarperTeen, 2012, 336pp.)

Decades in the future, the United States is no longer a democracy. The government is ruled by a monarchy, social castes are the norm, and teen girls everywhere are obsessed with a government-sponsored competition known as the Selection. This months-long televised event documents the struggle of 35 young women to win the hand of the next prince.

Against this backdrop, America “Mer” Singer, the daughter of poor musicians, reluctantly submits an application for the competition after Aspen, the love of her teenaged life, breaks up with her. She knows that her chances of getting chosen are infinitesimally small, but the promise of a generous stipend, but the opportunity to vault their family into prestige and power, is too much for her ambitious mother to let her pass up.

Against all odds, America’s application gets pulled for the running. She’s not really interested in Prince Maxon, of course. She’s still in mourning for Aspen. So when she sits in for her requisite interview with the prince, she confesses that she’s really only in the competition “by accident,” and really isn’t ready for romance again so soon. To her surprise, Maxon is impressed by her honesty. Instead of sending her home, he makes her a proposal: he will agree to a platonic relationship if she will act as his eyes and ears among the girls. He is, he admits, a bit bewildered by the female sex (especially when they cry!), so any help navigating the waters of this unusual dating environment would be most welcome. Intrigued by his offer, she agrees, and looks forward to helping select the next princess. This arrangement works splendidly for the next few weeks—until her ex, Aspen, gets a job at the palace, and begs her to take him back. This is a major problem, since the Selection rules dictate that any contestant found guilty of “illicit” romantic interloping will be charged with treason and sentenced to death. And then, of course, there’s the unexpected matter of America’s newly developed feelings for Maxon...

I have to admit, for someone who hates love triangles I was surprised by how much I liked this novel. Cass makes a wise decision by keeping America and Maxon’s relationship (mostly) platonic, at least for this first volume of the series. The fact that they get to know each other as friends first, and love interest second, puts their relationship on an interesting level, and allowed me, as a reader, to take their budding romance seriously. In addition, the author manages to bypass most of the requisite melodrama that accompanies love triangles by keeping Maxon and Aspen separated for most of the story—until nearly the end, that is. On the downside, the supporting cast was pretty undeveloped, but I’m hoping that will be amended in the next book. (A final note to potential readers: a lot is set up during this founding installment, but the ending leaves a lot unresolved. If you pick this up at your local library, make sure you have the sequel, The Elite, close at hand.) Recommended for female teens of any age.

Guest Post: Cassie from Culture Coverage Suggests 5 Free E-Books for Teens

5 Free E-Books to Encourage Your Teenager’s Reading Habits

I would like to thank Liz for publishing this article. She provides detailed and thoughtful reviews that cover the gamut of genres from graphic novels to children’s books. If you want to support independent authors, check out her self-published and small press category.

In today’s digital world, teenagers are more connected than ever before, thanks to the prevalence of smartphones and fast network connections. Besides networking with friends on social media networks, they’re also exploring and discovering new apps and technology that seem interesting or entertaining. With so much content and information available, sitting down and reading a physical book might seem like a hassle. Luckily, e-books provide a digital solution for your busy teenager. Plus, you can find hundreds of books for free!

Of course, before joining free e-book sites or providing your teenager with an Amazon account, you’ll want to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN). These services not only protect private information by hiding your IP, but they also provide improved security control by preventing certain types of files from being downloaded or uploaded. While not foolproof, it adds another layer of security.

If you’re looking for ways to encourage your teen’s reading habits, suggest these amazing YA books.

The Forgotten: The Lux Guardians, Book 1

Saruuh Kelsey

Source: Goodreads

After the death of their genius father, the Ravel twins find themselves thrust from Victorian London to a London in shambles after a solar disaster. They quickly learn their father’s invention caused the disaster and must find a way to prevent it from happening. The book combines dystopian elements with Steampunk for a unique perspective. The intrigue and action keep the plot advancing at a quick pace. There are multiple points of view, which can be confusing to follow at least in the beginning. Still, once they start reading, it won’t be long until they ask for the sequel.

Glimpse: The Zellie Wells Trilogy, Book 1

Source: Author Website

Stacey Wallace Benefiel

It seems fated that Zellie should fall in love with Avery. He’s the son of her mom’s high school sweetheart. When she learns the feelings are mutual everything seems perfect, until a jarring vision of his death shakes her to her core. She learns these visions are hereditary and will come true if the two stay together. Zellie has to decide whether to stay away from Avery to save his or life or risk everything and find out how to change the future. Although the teen dialogue comes off as a bit stereotypical, the characters themselves are developed, and the emotions ring true. If you're looking for a paranormal book for your teen with a strong heroine and no vampires, try out this book.

The Contamination Series, Books 0-3

Source: Author Website

T.W. Piperbrook

This isn’t the R.L. Stine books you might have enjoyed when you were younger. Piperbrook adds a new layer to the horror/suspense genre. A strange virus has mysteriously infected almost everyone in the tri-state area turning them into mindless killing machines. It’s up to a band of survivors to fight back the horde and find the answer to how this plague started. Piperbrook weaves a plot full of conspiracy and action while also developing rich and likable characters. While it might not be a thought-provoking story of redemption, it is definitely a page turner.

Awaken: The Sorcha Series, Book 1

Source: Author Website

Susan Alford and Lesley Smith 

After the death of their father, twins Lucas and Lily realize that they have a special gift. Years later when they enroll in college, they learn their true identities as Sorchas—warriors of light that fight against evil—and they learn they are not alone. There are ten others, each with their own different spiritual gifts. Alford and Smith breathe life into their characters by introducing unique personality traits and quirks. By the time the action starts, you are already invested in their lives and choices. The character development makes the suspenseful plot and sudden twists more dramatic.

Source: Publisher Website

Nariko’s Map: Legends of the Kunoichi, Book 1

Alex Redwood

After samurais attack and kill her family, Nariko finds herself on a farm full of girls who arrived under similar circumstances. She soon learns the farm is a training ground for an all-female ninja army. As she improves her skills as a kunoichi, Nariko must dive into the war that destroyed her family and search for answers about her past. While Nariko might not be real, the all-female ninja army is based on history. Mochizuki Chiyome, a feudal Japanese noblewoman in the sixteenth century, created a group of all female ninja agents.  The women she recruited were prostitutes, victims of the civil war and young orphaned girls. Not only is this a great read, but it might also pique your teen's interest in Japanese history!

Do you have any other suggestions for great fee eBooks for teens? Tell us in the comments below!

About the Author: Cassie loves anything related to literature and technology. She can’t wait to begin teaching her own children the joys of reading using modern technology!