The Kill Order- Aug. 24th

Grade: B

We know that we have A LOT of Maze Runner fans in the TL, so we couldn't pass up adding the prequel to our summer reading list. If you have not yet read The Maze Runner, you can easily start with The Kill Order and not feel lost.

The Kill Order follows a small group of solar-flare survivors who have eked out a living in the Appalachian Mountains. Their recovery is shattered when they are attacked by a group of government soldiers with virus leaden darts. The virus instantly kills many, becomes air-born, and begins to infect everyone else. As they search for answers to the attack, they stumble across a child who appears to be immune to the virus.

We have to be honest here, we weren't really fans of The Maze Runner trilogy. Although we love the plot, we have never been able to connect with any of the characters enough to really care about whether or not they survived. We were hoping that this prequel would change our minds, but... After finishing this one, we had learned very little about this new group, very little about WICKED, and very little about The Glade. In fact, there are still so many unanswered questions, that we are certain there will be a second prequel. If you are looking for non-stop action, you'll love this one. If you are looking for answers, we think you'll just end up with even more questions.

Next Up: **The 2012 Fall Reading List! We'll post the titles next Friday, Aug. 31st. TL Early Birds can pick up a copy of the list on Wednesday, Aug. 29th.**

Scarlet- Aug. 17th

Grade: B-

Scarlet presents the Robin Hood tale with a few twists:
1-Scarlet is a girl in disguise
2-A love triangle between Scarlet, John, and Robin
We know that a number of our Titan's finished this one long before the summer reading list was announced and that most really enjoyed the book.

Posing as one of Robin's thieves, Scarlet is hiding from Lord Gisbourne who is charged with capturing the rabble rousers. Although the people of Nottinghamshire are unaware of Scarlet's true identity, Robin and his men welcome her knife wielding skills into their band. As the Sheriff and Gisbourne close in on the gang, Scarlet and Robin have to decide just how much more involved their relationship can become.

Readers expecting lots of action or a story that focuses on the basic plot of Robin Hood, may find that Scarlet lacks both. We think the author was just using the original story as the setting for a love triangle that she could narrate in a post-Crusade language. And while that does offer a unique take (Robin McKinley and Tamora Pierce fans will love this one) we're not sure we really liked the characters enough to be okay with the lack of adventure. If you are a Robin Hood fan, you've already read everything else, AND you need yet ANOTHER love triangle- you'll love this one. If, however, you are looking for an adventure with the merry band, we suggest you try The King Raven trilogy by Stephen Lawhead.

Next Up: The Kill Order- Aug. 24th

Perks of Being a Wallflower- Aug. 10th

Grade: C+

In preparation for the upcoming screen adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, we thought this would be the perfect time to add it to our summer reading list. Originally published in 1999, the novel has been lauded by many as a "new" The Catcher in the Rye with a format that places the reader in the role of a dear friend.

Charlie is a shy freshman seeking to make some kind of a connection with his fellow classmates. But he just seems too sensitive, too introspective, and possibly too wise to fit in with most of the student body. In order to work through many of the issues facing teens today- love, family, sex, peer pressure, suicide, drugs, etc.- Charlie begins writing to an undisclosed person, "dear friend." Through these letters, he details his trials at school, a small group of friends, stress at home, and eventually, the root of his emotional problems.

This seems to be a book that you either really love or you just can't get into. We found ourselves in the middle not because of the topics or the fact that so much happens to one person, but because we think there are other stories out there that are better- The Catcher in the Rye is one of them. We'd also suggest Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why or John Green's Looking for Alaska as alternatives that are just as intense and mature with a more robust story. We're not suggesting that you pass this by, especially if you have already read our alternatives. And reading the book before you see the movie is always a good idea (we think the movie might be better). Those looking for a mature, non-traditional YA read should consider this one. Those looking for something not so serious... keep looking.

Next Up: Scarlet- Aug. 17th

Code Name Verity- Aug. 3rd

Grade: A


When we read the plot description for Code Name Verity, we just had to put it on our summer reading list. Historical fiction can be a difficult genre to sell to teens, but trust us- you DO NOT want to miss this one!

In October, 1943- a British spy plane crash lands in Nazi-occupied France. The pilot and passenger, long-time friends know that only one of them will make it out alive and that the area is crawling with German soldiers. If captured, they will have to endure days of torture due to the highly sensitive military information they have access to. Information that would clearly give the Germans the ability to successfully attack British strongholds and root out spies.

We wish we could give you more of the plot, but even that little bit gives too much away. This is not a Holocaust story and the action is more psychological than physical. The point of view, format, and style of some chapters may make some readers give up- DON'T! When the final scene is played- you will wonder how you didn't see it coming. You'll have to work for this one because you can't speed through it if you really want to get the most out of the story. Our advice: read a few pages, put it down, and walk away for a bit. Then, after you've had time to digest it, repeat the process. We fully expect to see this one on some book award nomination lists. Don't miss out!

Next Up: Perks of Being a Wallflower-Aug. 10th

Darkness Before Dawn- July 27th

Grade: B+


The first in a planned trilogy, Darkness Before Dawn tries to combine the popularity of dystopian civilizations and a vampire apocalypse. For the most part, we think it works and we'll probably read the second one.

Following a thirty year war between humans and vampires, the world has been divided into kingdoms ruled over by ancient vampire families. A tenuous VampHu Treaty requires that to maintain the peace, humans must provide the vampires with a monthly blood supply. This 'voluntary' donation is supposed to keep vampire attacks under control while allowing the human cities to operate almost like they did before the war. The Agency, run by humans, is the local government whose job it is to oversee that the monthly blood quotas are met. They also appoint delegates to negotiate with the reigning vampire families. Dawn, the youngest delegate, finds herself caught in the beginnings of a vampire initiated uprising to free the cities. Victor, the heir to the vampire throne, must find a way to convince Dawn that he has the humans best interests in mind.

The setting is great and the premise is definitely on trend, but we were annoyed by the developing romance between Dawn and Victor (Twilight has really doomed all vampire/human relationships for us). This one ends in a cliff-hanger, but you won't be frustrated too much. While you're waiting for the second installment, we would suggest The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa or The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda.

Next Up: Code Name Verity- Aug. 3rd

Marcelo In The Real World- July 20th

Grade: A

We had seen this title on several 'must read' lists and noticed that it had received a Schneider Family Award in 2010, but we had to stay on top of all the Sci-Fi. When it came time to put together our summer reading list, we immediately added a couple of titles that were long overdue for our perusal. Happily, Marcelo In The Real World does not disappoint and again, the Schneider Family Awards are a fantastic recommendation.

Marcelo hears music that no one else can hear- something that numerous tests and doctors cannot explain- and until this summer, he has always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. His father, wanting to prepare him for life beyond the grounds of his school, demands that he spend the summer working in the mail room of his law firm. It is here that Marcelo gets a crash course in competition, jealousy, anger, and desire as he gets to know his co-workers. Some are surprising in their kindness and strength, while others are just as surprising in their ruthlessness. In the end, Marcelo demonstrates to everyone that he is prepared for life in the 'real world' probably even more so than they are.

What we love about Marcelo, is that he gives us the chance to understand him. He is the center of the story. His actions are the draw. And while he does mature as a character, the progression gives the reader enough time to get to know him and become his biggest fan. We see the complications long before Marcelo and hope that he has the fortitude to do what is right and not be swayed by the 'real world'- and he does. Marcelo is a quiet hero without the cape. It's a quick read, but pick this one up when you have a couple of days to really savor the story.

Next up: Darkness Before Dawn- July 27th

Kill Me Softly- July 13th

Grade: D

Ugh... not only did we struggle to finish this one, but now we have to review it. Okay, so not every book that we pick turns out to be a 'must read.' And we often find that after 50 or so pages, we have started to enjoy the story. But in the case of Kill Me Softly that just didn't happen. We blame the lead character, Mirabelle- or Mira, as she is often referred to in the story.

Approaching her sixteenth birthday, Mira hatches a plan to return to the city of her birth, Beau Rivage, in order to seek out the graves of her parents. Apparently, when she was just a babe in arms, they were killed in a fire and she was adopted by her two godmothers. Wishing to protect her from harm (and anything sharp), they take Mira to another suburb and raise her for fifteen years, flatly refusing to let her visit her birth place. Of course Mira sneaks out the night before her party and boards a bus to her old home town. Upon arrival, she finds that she has no idea of where to begin her search and that Beau Rivage is a town full of strange characters. Along the way, she meets a Snow White, a Beauty and a Beast, several Prince Charmings, and even a Bluebeard or two. At the end, Mira must decide how best to deal with her curse (she's a Sleeping Beauty) while trying to protect Blue, the boy she now loves.

The author did a great job of intertwining Grimm, Anderson, and Perrault tales. Keep in mind that the originals and many of their later variations are not Disneyesque so the overall mood is quite dark. The idea of giving each character a sort of birth mark that foretold their destiny was a cool idea. Mira has a birthmark shaped like the spinning wheel in Sleeping Beauty which puts her squarely in the somnambulist genus. So, dark mood- good. Mixing tales- good. Setting it in modern times- good. Where did it all go wrong? Mirabelle.

Now just because we didn't really like this one, doesn't mean that another reader will feel the same. If you are at all curious about this one, try it out and let us know what you think. We can agree to disagree on books. In fact, most reviewers seem to love this one. Maybe we've just seen one too many episodes of Grimm and Once Upon A Time.

Next up: Marcelo In The Real World- July 20th

For Darkness Shows the Stars- July 6th

Grade: A

Take one Jane Austen and add in a healthy dose of Sci-fi with a dash of Steampunk and you'll get a fabulous re-telling of Persuasion in For Darkness Shows the Stars. We think this is Diana Peterfreund's best book to date even though we know a number of you really enjoyed her killer unicorns.

After refusing to run away with her childhood sweetheart, Elliot has chosen to stay behind and try to salvage the family estate from economic ruin and a labor uprising. Her father-Baron North and older sister-Titiana seem only to be concerned with spending the family fortune on ridiculous past-times while disregarding the impending collapse of their farm. Elliot learns of an opportunity to make some additional income by renting a portion of the estate to the Cloud Fleet. However, it isn't until after the mysterious fleet has settled in that she is re-united with Kai, her former friend and servant. All grown-up and answering to the title of Captain Malakai Wentforth, Kai plans to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she refused to leave with him.

Readers shouldn't rush through this one- just like the original Jane Austen novel, the personal relationships are key to understanding the storyline. The futuristic setting and inventions give it an updated twist, but the pacing is the same. Don't try to use this version for any Persuasion book reports either, but a comparison between the two could be fun.

Next up: Kill Me Softly- July 13th

Between Shades of Gray- June 29th

Grade: A


Historical fiction at it's best! Not only is the story gripping, but well researched. With most of WWII fiction focusing on the Holocaust or the war in Western Europe, the plight of the Baltic peoples is often overlooked.

Between Shades of Gray tells the story of 15 year-old Lena, a Lithuanian girl whose family is sent to a Siberian work camp. Marched from her home in the middle of the night, along with her younger brother and mother, Lena learns that the Soviets have plans to remove all non-Stalin supporters from the region. Her father, having been detained earlier in the day, is also awaiting deportation to a prison camp somewhere in Russia, but is unable to warn his family in time. Fighting each day to stay together and survive, Lena uses her artistic ability to capture the truth of what the Soviets are doing and who they have sentenced to death in the Siberian wasteland.

Fans of The Book Thief or The Diary of Anne Frank will appreciate the young adult point of view and expert storytelling. Having conducted extensive research into her family history, Ruta Sepetys made several trips to Lithuania to record personal stories from survivors, historians, and family members in order to provide the reader with accurate depictions and events. For more information, check out the author sponsored website at: www.betweenshadesofgray.com

Next Up: For Darkness Shows The Stars- July 6th

The Running Dream- June 22nd

Grade: A

We're kind of embarrassed to admit that this is our first Van Draanen novel, but we can happily report that it won't be our last. Winner of the 2012 Schneider Family Book Award, The Running Dream is perfect for all audiences. We think  it would make a great family read with lots of opportunities for in-depth discussions.

While returning home from a track meet, 16 year-old Jessica along with her teammates, is involved in an accident that leaves one girl dead and Jessica with a crushed leg. Waking up in the hospital, she learns that the damage to her calf was so severe, that they had to amputate it below the knee. At first she is unable to acknowledge that she is lucky to have survived the crash and instead, continues to focus on the loss of her dream: becoming a world-class sprinter. With the help of a loyal friend, a supportive coach, team, and loving family, Jessica slowly re-enters her teen life. But it isn't until she seeks the help of Rosa, a fellow classmate with cerebral palsy, that she begins to realize that there is still a "finish line" in her future.

This is the second time we have included a Schneider Family Award Winner on our summer reading list (Five Flavors of Dumb 2011) and we plan on continuing the trend next summer too. We love the fact that the overall theme is: recognizing someone for their strengths, not their disability. It's a quick read that's upbeat and not overly saccharine.

Next up: Between Shades of Gray- June 29th

Child of the Mountains- June 15th

Grade: B-

Child of the Mountains by Marilyn Sue Shank tells the story of Lydia Hawkins and her attempt to understand the circumstances surrounding her mothers' imprisonment. Set in 1953 West Virginia, Shank unwinds her tale using an authentic Appalachian voice to describe the life of a poor mountain family and their trials with other community members, religious, and medical institutions.

Lydia Hawkins doesn't mind being poor. She is rich with her love of books and a tight-knit family. Her younger brother BJ, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, is accepted in to an all expense paid medical study in the hopes of finding a cure. But as BJ's condition worsens, Lydia pleads with her mother to bring him home. Earlier attempts to withdraw BJ from the study resulted in threats of legal action to reclaim medical expenses. So Lydia and her mother must technically kidnap him. Everyone understands why BJ should be at home with his family, but when it comes time to explain this to the judge, Lydia gets confused. As her dreams of reuniting with her mother slip further away, Lydia must learn to find the strength to fight for what is right.

The characters are endearing and there are several passages that are quite inspiring with their messages of strength, faith, and tolerance. However, we felt like the resolutions to the conflicts were too quickly settled and that perhaps the author didn't trust that either her main character or her readers would be interested in a bit more substance to the story.

Next Up: The Running Dream- June 22nd

Ripper- June 8th

Grade: C

So... this is a hard one to review. Giving it a 'C' was even more difficult, but let's keep in mind that a 'C' means average. We were really excited about reading this one, and hoped to get to it before the end of the school year. Perhaps if we had, we would have been able to chat with the small number of you who had read it, and then been a bit more generous with the final grade.

The plot line revolves around 14 year-old Carver Young who is adopted by a Pinkerton Agency detective. Having grown up in the orphanage reading mysteries, it's a dream come true for Carver to be assisting the famous Detective Hawking. That is until he realizes that the reason for his adoption, is to draw out Jack the Ripper, now rumored to be in New York City. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the Ripper could be Carvers' biological father who has returned to find his abandoned son.

There's plenty of action, very little romance, and some serious historical research. Carver is likable and brave, but is slow on the up-take of clues. It takes a bit of the fun out of the story if you start yelling at the pages, "I know who the killer is!" We really enjoyed the historical events and figures that provide the setting and some major plot points, but we felt like the author didn't really do a very good job of incorporating the history into the fiction. And we have serious difficulty with YA books whose chapters are between 2 - 4 pages in length. It becomes such a distraction! We think it has a YA ranking because the main character is a teen and the plot revolves around a serial killer, but if you're looking for edgy, Ripper isn't it. If, however, you are interested in a quick, historical fiction mystery, that would have a PG rating at the box office- you've found it.

Next Up: Child of the Mountains- June 15th

The Fault In Our Stars- June 1st

Grade: A-

We love John Green! He is one of the few YA authors who isn't afraid to put his teen characters into some tough spots and have them act like teens. You won't find any vampires or zombies. No wizards to make all of your problems vanish. And none of those relentlessly polite reactions to terrible news. You know what we're talkin' about. When the character is told that they are going to die from a terminal illness, they shrug and say "Oh, well. I'll just live my life to the fullest." Eventually, his characters may get there, but they have those normal reactions of anger, frustration, hopelessness, etc. He also doesn't feel the need to tell us the ENTIRE story and in the world of YA Lit, a non-series author is a rarity. Instead, he offers us the very best of a small moment in a characters existence.

The Fault In Our Stars introduces us to Hazel and Augustus two cancer coping teens who meet at a support group. Knowing that their days are numbered, they have to decide just how much of their remaining time they want to devote to each other. How serious do they want to be? Would it be easier if they remained disconnected and therefore less likely to really hurt anyone when they die? Is it worth it to go through the remaining time never really having made a serious connection? Their story is heartbreaking, funny- and it's easy to forget that these two teens are characters in a book.

We know that some of you will skip this one because it sounds so somber, but believe us when we tell you that you will truly appreciate this one. Be brave- Hazel and Augustus were.

Next up: Ripper, June 8th

Bitterblue- May 25th

Grade: B

After a couple of years of wondering whether or not there really was going to be a third book, we finally have our answer. Like many of you, we had to re-read Graceling and Fire to refresh our memory.

It's eight years after Graceling, and Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. She struggles with her father's lingering influence and must find a way to work with her advisers. But from the beginning there is conflict. In order to move ahead, they would like to forgive and forget all of the bad things that happened. Trouble is, the damage inflicted upon the kingdom and it's people is unforgivable. In an attempt to escape the daily paperwork as the new queen, Bitterblue makes secret journeys into the village disguised as a peasant. While there, she meets two young thieves who, without realizing she is their queen, educate her on the realities of life in her kingdom- and it's not a pretty picture. Furthermore, damage continues to be done by those Bitterblue is trusting to fix the problems.

We don't want to give you much more of a summary, simply because it is the political intrigue that moves the plot. We can tell you that as usual, Kristen Cashore maintains her ability to provide a well written story. We really like that Bitterblue focuses on the aftermath of Leck's reign and her attempts to put the kingdom back together.

We didn't give it an 'A' simply because of the numerous sub-plots and somewhat sluggish pace. Die-hard Graceling fans may be a bit disappointed by the lack of action. It's still worth reading, particularly if you have been waiting for so long like we have.

Next up: The Fault in our Stars- June 1st

Insurgent- May 18th

Grade: A

Insurgent, book 2 in the Divergent trilogy by Vernoica Roth, picks up right where book one stops. If you haven't read the first book or if you have not yet started Insurgent- STOP READING OUR REVIEW RIGHT NOW! Because we are not holding back on spoilers. Oh, and for all of you speed readers out there who kept coming in and asking if we were finished yet, that was absolute torture! But we forgive you. So let's discuss now.

A quick re-cap. Tris has just survived the first coordinated/remote controlled attack on her old faction, Abnegation. In the process, she has lost her mother and killed Wil one of her Dauntless friends. She heads to the Dauntless headquarters to stop the slaughter, masterminded by the Erudite, only to lose her father in a shoot out as she attempts to break into the control room. Once inside, she finds Tobias (aka Four) manning the controls. It's obvious that he, like the majority of the Dauntless, are unaware of their actions since their minds have been hi-jacked by the Erudite leader, Jeanine. Breaking Tobias out of his hallucination, they end the simulation, grab the control program and make their escape.

They can't stay in the city with the Erudite and Dauntless doing their best to take control. Abnegation has scattered and no one really knows where Candor stands. Their best bet, is to hide out in Amity. With Caleb, Peter, Marcus and several other survivors in tow, they make their way out to the country in the hopes that they will be able to re-group and come up with a plan.

Insurgent sheds more light upon how each faction functions and it's relationships with the others. The Factionless also come in to play, having seen the demise of the system early on and introducing us to Tobias' mother who just happens to be their leader.

Several of you have said that it was difficult to stay interested because it becomes so political and you have gotten lost trying to keep everyone's motives in order. But those of you who stuck with it... can you believe the twists and turns?! HOLY COW!

We have a couple of questions for those of you that have finished.

1. Do you trust Tobias' mother? We think she seems an awful lot like President Coin from The Hunger Games.
2. Would you still claim Caleb as your brother knowing he is such a turn-coat?
3. Do you think Tris and Tobias will stay together? She is now in cahoots with Marcus and he has become somewhat of a momma's boy.
4. Any trouble accepting how easy it seemed for Tobias to stroll in (twice) and rescue Tris from her torture sessions with Jeanine? Do you think it could have been part of a bigger plan?

We are confident that the next book will be just as fabulous. And thank you Ms. Roth for not throwing in a love triangle (there should be an annual limit). We'd love to hear your thoughts. You can post here, on our Facebook wall, or pop in and let us know (at least we're open for one more day).

Next up: Bitterblue- May 25th

Masque of the Red Death- May 11th

Grade: B+

We love the basis for this one (Poe's original piece- who doesn't like a little Poe in their life?). We love, love the cover (even though they will probably go with a real model eventually). We love that it was written by a high school English teacher who enjoys YA Lit and not just the Classics. We love the use of the ceramic masks for protection, the political maneuvering, the science v. nature v. wrath of God... The love triangle- not so much. Probably because we can't seem to pick up a book without this storyline and it's BEEN DONE. We also aren't big fans of the main character- Araby. Despite that (and we know we are in the minority here), it's worth your time and we plan on reading the second one as soon as it comes out.

A devastating plague has decimated the population (we seem to write that often), and those who are left, live in fear of catching it. Only the rich and connected families can afford the ceramic face masks that filter out the sickness. Once you breath through a mask, it will not work for anyone else- so, no sharing. Araby Worth, the daughter of the brilliant scientist (who may or may not have caused the plague), spends what seem to be the last remaining days of the human race trolling through lavish parties at exclusive clubs. It is at The Debauchery Club that she meets Will (the bouncer) and Elliott (the mysterious brother of her best friend). Will wants to protect Araby from the less than savory clientele and end her use of club drugs. Elliott, however, has far grander plans as he eventually reveals that he wants to rebel against the current government and Araby is the key to his success. As Araby becomes more aware of her father's involvement in the pandemic, she finds that she no longer knows who to trust and time is running out for mankind.

We wanted to give it a better grade- the setting alone deserves an 'A', but Araby... We have a sneaking suspicion that she is a distant cousin to Bella Swan. We just wanted to grab her and say, "Make a decision already! You can do it! Just think for yourself!" That's a lot of exclamation points for one character ;). We suggest you read the original short story by Poe first, then pick up Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin so that you can get the full effect of the hopelessly dark atmosphere.

Post your comments here or the the Facebook wall.

Next up: Insurgent by Veronica Roth- May 18th

TL Summer Reading 2012

Although next week we will begin our closing up of the library, have no fear- SUMMER READING IS HERE! The reading list is now available in the library, but if you can't locate your copy, take a look at the dates and titles below. Keep in mind that several of the selected books won't be released from the publisher until later this summer.

May 11th: Masque of the Red Death- Griffin, B.
May 18th: Insurgent- Roth, V.
May 25th: Bitterblue- Cashore, K.
June 1st: The Fault In Our Stars- Green, J.
June 8th: Ripper- Petrucha, S.
June 15th: Child of the Mountains- Shank, M.S.
June 22nd: The Running Dream- Van Draanen, W.
June 29th: Between Shades of Gray- Sepetys, R.
July 6th: For Darkness Shows the Stars- Peterfreund, D.
July 13th: Kill Me Softly- Cross, S.
July 20th: Marcelo In The Real World- Stork, F.
July 27th: Darkness Before Dawn-London, J.A.
August 3rd: Code Name Verity- Wein, E.
August 10th: Perks of Being a Wallflower- Chbosky, S.
August 17th: Scarlet- Gaughen, A.C.
August 24th: The Kill Order- Dashner, J.

We'll post our review to our blog and remind you on our Facebook page. Respond here, there, email us, or just lurk and let us know next year. Happy Summer Reading Titans!