Infected - YA Review by Sam T

Reader: Sam T.
Age: 15
Title: Infected
Author: Sophie Littlefield
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub Date: 01/06/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I felt like the plot was interesting enough to keep me hooked, although it seemed just a little predictable at times. However, I do feel like the romance between Tanner and Carina seems like idealized, young-adult-novel love instead of being realistic. Despite this, there were some things I liked about this book, like the fast pace, the paranoia, and the sense of urgency throughout. At times, though, it also seemed to rely upon cliches and seemed somewhat like a collection of tropes from the young-adult/scifi/thriller genre (secret codes, secret messages in jewelry, someone who you think is an antagonist turning out to be good after all and vice versa, etc.).
     In addition, I feel like a part of the book that was sort of a cop-out was the "secret codes" part of it. The book has vague descriptions of the code, instead of including the actual coded messages and allowing the reader to try to puzzle over and decipher themselves. The book basically says something along the lines of "she spent time deciphering it until she figured it out." and leaves it at that. Either that, or it gives a useless, uncoded message that only refers to some personal thing that one of the characters would know. In fact, I found the part where they tried unlocking Walter's house very confusing about what exactly they were solving, and I'm still confused about it because how they solved it was never explained in detail.
     The final battle at the school, where they were leaping from rooftop to rooftop, also seemed hard to imagine to me because the locations of buildings and structures in relation to the characters were never really described in-depth, and that made visualization of the ending difficult.
Memorable or Forgettable: It seemed forgettable to me because it read sort of like all other young-adult-thriller sorts of books, especially with the somewhat idealized romance between the two lead characters and the predictable plot, along with the overall similar plot to many other books I've read in the past.
Cover: It interested me, but it only seemed to somewhat relate to the contents. The city skyline in the background seems a little unnecessary.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  suspense / action / ya lit

Inherit Midnight - YA Review by Dana F

Reader: Dana F.
Age: 14
Title: Inherit Midnight
Author: Kate Kae Myers
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pub Date: 02/10/15
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I liked this book because I was never bored and, although the plot was not very original(think 39 Clues crossed with the Westing Game), the characters were somewhat interesting.
Memorable or Forgettable: As I said, the plot was pretty much 39 Clues from the family history to the types of characters: Avery is the main character whom everyone hates, another related family will do anything to win, etc. There were some things that the 39 Clues didn't have, like the diamond mining, love interest, and live parents.
Cover: I liked the cover, it sort of reflected the contents of the book.
Age Range: Under 12 through 15
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  suspense / romance / adventure / ya lit

A School for Unusual Girls - YA Review by Alyissa S

Reader: Alyissa S.
Age: 15
Title: A School for Unusual Girls
Author: Kathleen Baldwin
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pub Date: 05/19/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I love this book! I was at the edge of my seat while reading this book! It was hard to put down. This book couldn't get any better: the romance was on point, the action was on point, and the characters were on point. The only change I would make would be how they explain to Georgiana that it's not a school.
Memorable or Forgettable: The most memorable part of the book was the characters because I can feel what they are going through and I can picture them in my head.
Cover: The cover really goes with the book. They shouldn't change it because it gives the book a mysterious look that everyone would want to read.
Age Range: 14 through 15
Quality: 5Q - Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  suspense / romance / historical fiction / Stranje House series / ya lit

Nil Unlocked - YA Review by Nick B

Reader: Nick B.
Age: 15
Title: Nil Unlocked
Author: Lynne Matson
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Pub Date: 05/12/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: The book has a very intriguing plot: teenagers get sent to a mysterious and dangerous island to try and escape. Its a sci-fi Lord of the Flies, in which teens live on a dangerous island, have relationships, and the only downside is you die after 365 days if you don't escape. The book tackles the common problem of love triangles extremely well, turns out books are better without them. A thrilling sequel to Nil that captures all the amazing writing elements as the first book such as realistic male and female characters.
Memorable or Forgettable: The book could improve in some areas such as character motives. The book had an overall strong motive for the characters but some of their decisions seem absolutely awful and pointless. However, the book creates amazing realistic characters that you feel as if you've known them for years. The plot in the first book was much stronger than this one. It was very climactic, whereas in this book the main problem and solution are revealed within the first few chapters and the author just stretched it out. I would love to see a more suspenseful and dramatic plot in the third and final book.
Cover: The cover depicts an island at sunset. I enjoyed the artwork and simplicity of the cover. I also thought it reflected the book's plot very well since the book is based on an island. For the third book I would enjoy seeing a cover similar to the first and second books. 
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal


tags:  dystopian romance / science fiction / adventure / survival / Nil series / ya lit

The Art of Secrets - YA Review by Ayan L

Reader: Ayan L.
Age: 12
Title: The Art of Secrets
Author: James Klise
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pub Date: 04/22/14
Galley: No
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I think you should read the book because the plot changes and, if you like mystery, you would will love it.
Memorable or Forgettable: When she met the boy on Facebook she really didn't know him and she just started dating him.
Cover: Yes, but I thought it was about art. 
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: A girl named Saba Khan really loves tennis . Her house burns down and her family doesn't know who did it . Her friends find this art that belongs to the Khan's and is worth alot of money . It's a mystery - will the Khan's get their money and who burned down the house???


tags:  mystery / ya lit

Firefight - YA Review by Tristan HB

Reader: Tristan HB
Age: 14
Title: Firefight
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub Date: 01/06/15
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: The characters were relatable and seemed so real.
Memorable or Forgettable: The fact that the powers corrupted the Epics rather than make them heroic.
Cover: The cover did reflect the contents and tempted me to pick up the book.
Age Range: 14 through 15
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  science fiction / dystopian / superheroes / The Reckoners series / ya lit

Seed - YA Review by Veronica K

Reader: Veronica K.
Age: 14
Title: Seed
Author: Lisa Heathfield
Publisher: Running Press
Pub Date: 03/10/15
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This was interesting. The plot was okay, but it was really the only thing that was developed. The main character was too easily swayed one way or another for something that she was raised for. And I have no idea who the antagonist was, the new kid or the evil ruler. Neither of them were talked about strongly enough to be considered. And the problem solver was a character I had never heard of. This book seemed like the author had a great idea, but forgot to tell people about it.
Memorable or Forgettable: This was an interesting idea. It was freaky on sooooo many levels, but it was good. If it was better developed, I might remember it well enough to call it good.
Cover: The cover is boring. And boringer. Although it does match the contents, but the contents are not something you can put into a picture.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal


tags:  drama / cults / physical and emotional abuse / ya lit

Ask the Dark - YA Review by Rayna Grace C

Reader: Rayna Grace C.
Age: 16
Title: Ask the Dark
Author: Henry Turner
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pub Date: 04/07/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book did not pack as much of a thematic punch that I expected, although it still deserves some awards for being unafraid to be original.  I wish there had been more connections made during the duration of the novel directly relating the vital differences in mentalities between petty criminals and murderers, since both the protagonist and the antagonist in the story would be considered suspicious people to meet while walking down an empty street.  I realize that was probably the point of the novel, but I just don't believe it was driven in deep enough: Billy's redemption through fame and monetary gain felt slightly hollow and seemed too eager to end all Billy's problems instead of addressing the issues underlying Billy's struggle of being labeled as a bad/dangerous/unwanted person because he committed crimes.  However, I will admit that the unconventional character choice itself was pretty fantastic, allowing Billy to be his own character, omitting some (not all; he still is a white male) of the traits found in the typical hero archetype.  My favorite aspect of Billy was his honesty in the retelling, which seemed to very obviously contrast with his petty criminal dealings.  Overall, I admired the book's willingness to fight the typical plot devices and character molds found in YA lit.  The change in pace from day-to-day YA literature was bold, but I wish that the book had really worked the thematic overtones during all the drama and mystery at the end instead of focusing on Billy's sudden wealth.
Memorable or Forgettable: What made this book memorable was what it didn't do. Although sometimes I felt the book was missing thematic depth, it did fight most of the typical YA book norms.  I admired that no character was without flaw or emotion, despite their brief descriptions.  I admired that no female characters were uselessly inserted into the novel as plot devices so they could use their feminine wiles to teach the main character compassion or obedience, or to create any love triangles constructed to somehow thicken the plot where the editor believed the novel fell flat (believe me, this doesn't work).  I admired that the book never glorified or sensationalized the horrific crimes addressed, or objectified the victims of those crimes into a list of injuries and traumas instead of a person.  Keeping all of those things absent in more YA crime books/YA books/all books would make this world a much better place.  This book takes us one more step into the future.
Cover: I fully respect the designer who created this cover.  The amber glowing shack sitting front and center, along with the tree branches roughly crisscrossing along the rest of the cover, and the translucent title letters creates the exact mood for this novel:  dark, down to earth, ominous and hopeful all at once, with the transparency of a small town too shocked with the murder of one of their children to notice the details like a boy always immersed in crime himself.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 5Q - Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  mystery / thriller / ya lit

Rat Runners - YA Review by Eli S-M

Reader: Eli S-M.
Age: 15
Title: Rat Runners
Author: Oisin McGann
Publisher: Open Road Media
Pub Date: 01/13/15
Galley: No
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I would recommend this book for a variety of reasons. First of all, the world is both inventive and exciting. The reader is caught up in the paranoia of constant surveillance, and the presence of security cameras and other detection systems lead to adventure. Secondly, the characters are very well developed. You become attached to each of the four unique thieves and their distrusting interactions feel very genuine. Thirdly, the plot races along at a quick, exciting pace, leaving no time for boredom.
Memorable or Forgettable: The book was memorable to me mainly because of the unique world. The novel is set in the near future, and there seems to be just the right combination of relatable facts and sci-fi technology. Moreover, every consequence of the constant surveillance that is part of the book's premise is explored, leading to elements such as networks of underground mobster's lairs/speakeasies, a secret trade in George Orwell's 1984, and reality shows depicting real people from around the city.
Cover: The cover of this book turned me off slightly. While it does somewhat reflect the contents of the book, I would prefer a cover that focused on the four thieves or one of their heists.
Age Range: Under 12 through 15
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: Four young thieves are caught up in an intricate criminal plot that threatens to take their lives. In order to save their own skins, they must navigate a city crawling with surveillance and outsmart both the police and the scheming mobsters who seek to control them.


tags:  dystopian / action / suspense / science fiction / ya lit

The Summer I Found You - YA Review by Samantha G

Reader: Samantha G.
Age: 13
Title: The Summer I Found You
Author: Jolene Perry
Publisher: AW Teen
Pub Date: 03/01/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: Even though Aiden started off hating his disability, the strong part was he started trying to live with his disability because of Kate. At first Kate was kinda being selfish about her disability and how she has type 1 diabetes, there are people who have it way worse than her, but at the end she finally began to see what happens if she doesn't take it seriously. Aidan and Kate both needed each other to understand themselves and each other.
Memorable or Forgettable: What made it memorable was two disabled people finding each other and starting to feel different emotions than they have had without each other. It was nice to hear both point of views and how they thought of each other.
Cover: The cover did look look interesting for me to pick up.The heart on the cover was accurate to the book.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  romance / coming of age / ya lit

Some Kind of Normal - YA Review by Claire W

Reader: Claire W.
Age: 13
Title: Some Kind of Normal
Author: Juliana Stone
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub Date: 05/05/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: The book was super sweet. It shows that sometimes people seem perfect but really aren't. The relationship in the book also seems real - not instant love. The dialogue was well written.
Memorable or Forgettable: The book was pretty forgettable because the love story wasn't really anything special.
Cover: The cover was forgettable and not well done.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 2Q - Needs more work
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  romance / coming of age / ya lit

The Rule of Three - YA Review by Simon D-S

Reader: Simon D-S
Age: 14
Title: The Rule of Three
Author: Eric Walters
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 01/21/14
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book had good plot, characters, and the dialogue was authentic. The plot did a nice job distributing the major events of the book, first nicely going through all of the chaos of the blackout, then the setup of the community, and finally the external problems. One of the most important elements, I thought, was the variety or character viewpoints. The author was very good at portraying all of the perspectives on the blackout and the building of the community. Finally, the dialogue was realistic for a sort of apocalyptic setting. There was the right amount of nervousness, paranoia, and mob mentality to keep everything just fine and dandy. 
Memorable or Forgettable: I really like any book that is about society's response to catastrophe. I thought this book did a great job of that. They had all the classics, like community mutiny, but also some flavor of their own, like a freaking PLANE. By far, if I remember anything at all in my adult life, it will be the freaking PLANE.
Cover: Yes. I definitely got the vibe of the book from the cover, and I was like "Yes, please." 
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  coming of age / post-apocalyptic / ya lit

Feral Pride - YA Review by Theo S-M

Reader: Theo S-M
Age: 12
Title: Feral Pride
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub Date: 02/24/15
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book had pretty good characters, but read the first book first - it will help very much. Again, the plot will be better understood if you have read the whole series.
Memorable or Forgettable: The plot is hard to forget. So are some character interactions.
Cover: The cover was pretty good, but could have been a little better (the lion is poorly photoshopped).
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: This book is about a group of shifters (shapeshifters) who society has hated for years. They are on a brave mission that may save their kind.


tags:  suspense / paranormal romance / action / shapeshifters / humor / urban fantasy / Feral Nights series / ya lit

The Novice (Summoner Book One) - YA Review by Veronica K

Reader: Veronica K.
Age: 14
Title: The Novice (Summoner Book One)
Author: Taran Matharu
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pub Date: 05/05/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I liked this book. The plot moved well, with everything happening at a speed worth reading. All the characters were believable, but some of the nobles could have been developed a little bit better. I would like to know more about them. But the main character, Fletcher, was conceivably stupid enough to have been from a secluded village in the middle of nowhere with no access to anything - he was kind enough and he was mean enough. Things were explained well, and I felt like I had enough information throughout the book.
Memorable or Forgettable: The most memorable thing about this book is that it is not a repeat of the past six or seven books I have read lately. It feels more original. It also feels like quality writing, something else that is lacking. Finally, the darn cliffhanger has guaranteed I will not forget this book for a long while.
Cover: The cover was the reason I picked it up. I so want that jacket. Anyone who wears that jacket is a good character.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  fantasy / adventure / The Summoner Trilogy / ya lit

Vivian Apple at the End of the World - YA Review by Solvi W

Reader: Solvi W.
Age: 15
Title: Vivian Apple at the End of the World
Author: Katie Coyle
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Pub Date: 01/06/15
Galley: No
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The book seemed very "real." Almost all of the prominent characters in the book are down-to-earth and focused on real-world problems. Each one also had a unique identity and voice - some were cliché, some very new, but they all made the story seem deep and relatable. They talked like real people and acted like real people. I felt like I could know them and their situations.
Memorable or Forgettable: The book focused a lot on modern religious issues, which I think many kids, Christian or not, may find as interesting as I did. It made for a very different but also much more realistic and believable apocalypse story.
Cover: The cover looked simple enough - a girl in a dress, rising up from the ground into the light from above - but it wasn't until later that I realized how thought-provoking it was. It seemed a bit contradictory at first since the main character gets "left behind," but the idea of "ascension" doesn't have to be in the religious sense.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q - Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: When thousands of Americans, all caught up in a shady church cult, are suddenly "Raptured" one night, Vivian Apple and her friends hit the road. Not the one to salvation, but the one to the truth.


tags:  coming of age / mystery / road trip / apocalypse / ya lit

Endangered: Mystery on the Daily News Beat - YA Review by Sam T

Reader: Sam T.
Age: 15
Title: Endangered: Mystery on the Daily News Beat
Author: Kate Jaimet
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Pub Date: 08/04/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I felt like a strong point was the inner voice and witty, believable inner dialogue of the main character Hayley, which sounded believable and realistic. I also did really like the development of Hayley's character from someone who doesn't care about the turtle near the beginning to someone wanting to at least help save it near the end. 
     However, I felt like one weak point was predictability - the plot twist that the suspicious old Doctor Wallis (who was fired for shooting an endangered animal and who sent them looking for the turtle in the first place) was the one trying to ruthlessly capture the turtle didn't come as a surprise to me at all. I feel like another weak point of the story was character development of other characters at times. Although the character of Ernest is developed, he is still nothing more than a hippie stereotype and his complete obliviousness to the situations around him doesn't seem believable to me. To me, Ernest seemed "flat" and unrealistic, less like an actual, developing character and more like a hodgepodge of tree-hugger-esque stereotypes. The same character development problem seemed to also be a problem with Doctor Wallis, the character of some deranged old scientist ruthlessly trying to capture some rare species. To me, it seemed like the character of Doctor Wallis was taken from an old movie. 
Memorable or Forgettable: I felt like it was somewhat forgettable, because the plot seemed somewhat predictable and seemed like a derivative of other works where some villain attempts to capture a rare species for their own nefarious purposes and some people are tasked with saving it. I also felt like some of the characters (see Dr. Wallis and Ernest above) seemed too generalized and unbelievable to seem like real people. Finally, I felt like the story jumped around too much at times, tried to cover too much ground, and occasionally seemed to reference multiple past or present subplots that only tangentially relate to the story.
Cover: This book was an unpublished copy, so my version had no cover.
Age Range: 14 through 15
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal


tags:  mystery / endangered species / ya lit

Killer Instinct (The Naturals) - YA Review by Michelle M

Reader: Michelle M.
Age: 17
Title: Killer Instinct (The Naturals)
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Hyperion
Pub Date: 11/04/2014
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: The first thing that grabbed my attention about this book was its originality. I haven't seen many stories like this and not ones told in this manner. It wasn't a knockoff of some other story, it had its own plot and its own quirky characters to really draw you in. The plot was reminiscent of various detective shows and stories, but the characters were a highlight. Each character is well-developed, with their own quirks and flaws and strengths. The main character, Cassie, was a talented and interesting character I could relate to. The other main characters each brought a fresh breath to the story and kept the story fun to read even during the more "dull" moments of the plot. The way they were written made them seem like authentic human beings with their own separate personalities and not just carbon copies of each other. The characters brought originality and life to the story. 
Memorable or Forgettable: My favorite thing about the book was that, although it was written to be a detective kind of story with a giant hunt for a serial killer, it was funny. It had heavy and dark moments, but several times it made me laugh loud enough to get funny looks from the other people in the room. I enjoyed the fact that it had a very interesting plot that kept me hooked, but that it also came back to earth every now and then and lightened up the story with an unexpected but well-placed joke.
Cover: The cover was very eye-catching and interesting and I think it does a decent job of reflecting the contents. I hope they keep it the same.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: Loved the book! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!


tags:  mystery / serial killers / The Naturals series / ya lit

A Little Something Different - YA Review by Sophie L

Reader: Sophie L.
Age: 14
Title: A Little Something Different
Author: Sandy Hall
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pub Date: 08/26/14
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: Before reading the book, I thought that having 14 viewpoints would not work. Transitioning between viewpoints was actually good and it wasn't confusing. One thing I didn't like was that it was frustrating to not know what the 2 lovers were thinking because it was told from everyone's view but theirs. Also, not much happened for most of the book other than the beginning and end. It would have been better with more plot in the middle.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was memorable in the sense that I haven't ever read a book with this many viewpoints. The plot wasn't too original, but the way it was told was original. 
Cover: I didn't really like the cover. I don't think that shade of pink exactly fits the story, but the design was fine. It did reflect the contents. 
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  romance / ya lit

Amulet #6: Escape from Lucien - YA Review by Jarod D

Reader: Jarod D.
Age: 16
Title: Amulet #6: Escape from Lucien
Author: Kazu Kibuishi
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pub Date: 08/26/14
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book is part six of an epic adventure of a girl gifted with a stone of great power. With the help of her friends and the few others left who share this power, she tries to stop the voice tThe mastermind behind the war) and the loss of many innocent civilians. The story itself is a graphic novel. If you like puzzles and action, this book is definitely for you. No one is overpowered and everyone's abilities and talents are not overused throughout the story.
Memorable or Forgettable: I always remember these books because I've been following the story since it started. It grows with the age group so it's never boring.
Cover: The cover of the book gives a small snippit of what happens in the story. It made me interested in what happens. The cover is a relevant summary of the story.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 5Q - Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P - Everyone wants to read it


tags:  graphic novel / fantasy / ya lit

Spelled - YA Review by Veronica R

Reader: Veronica R.
Age: 15
Title: Spelled
Author: Betsy Schow
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub Date: 06/02/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: It is a good book to read if you really like fairy tales.  It has a twist on the original stories.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was a twist on fairy tales.
Cover: The cover tempted me to pick up the book. It kind of did reflect the contents because it showed the ruby slippers.
Age Range: 14 through 15
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 2P - Only for special interest


tags: fairy tales / adventure / romance / coming of age / ya lit

Breaking Sky - YA Review by Pazao L

Reader: Pazao L.
Age: 14
Title: Breaking Sky
Author: Cori McCarthy
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub Date: 03/10/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I really enjoyed reading this book. It was something completely different  from what I usually pick up, but it was pretty cool. The plot line was alright and a bit predictable towards the end, but the author threw in a couple major plot twists that really made the story come alive. The many twists and turns had me screaming and literally on the edge of my seat waiting, not very patiently for the next page. This made it a very fast and quick read. The main characters were very well developed, but I would not say the same about the supporting and side characters. They were just normal characters. While I was reading, one of the factors that really dragged me into the book was how different the story is. It was a dystopian/science fiction/war/air craft book that not only involved the future, but a made up world and flying, which makes the story even cooler and better.
Memorable or Forgettable: The one thing that made this book very memorable to me was the fact that  it is not your everyday, typical book. It has a lot of different features, such as the head-strong and daredevil main character, to the dystopia world added in. The fact that the book had a love line going on was also pretty cute.
Cover: The cover was one of the main things that made me pick up the book. I really enjoy how everything looked and how it all flowed. I feel like it really did reflect the contents in a way, but there are some questionable things.
Age Range: Under 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  dystopian / science fiction / adventure / romance / teen fighter pilots / ya lit

Powerless - YA Review by Allen D

Reader: Allen D.
Age: 15
Title: Powerless
Author: Tera Lynn Childs & Tracy Deebs
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub Date: 06/02/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: Only two words, "Divergent Spinoff." Special powers, Messed up world, Good vs. evil, if you like books like this... well, you get it.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was so predictable.
Cover: No comment.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 1Q - How did it get published?
Popularity: 1P - Yech!  Forced to read it
Annotation: In a world were everyone has powers, Kenna Swift has none. But when Supervillians attack the place she works, she fights back to show that she's not powerless.


tags:  fantasy / suspense / ya lit

Becoming Jinn - YA Review by Dana F

Reader: Dana F.
Age: 13
Title: Becoming Jinn
Author: Lori Goldstein
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pub Date: 04/21/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I liked this book for its original plot, characters (they ranged from funny to  sorrowful to aggravating), and the writing was very descriptive. I was a little put out at the ending, which I felt was a little abrupt, but other than that it was a pretty good read.
Memorable or Forgettable: This book was memorable to me because of the details about Azra's (the main character) magic, since she is a reluctant genie-in-training. I also really liked the idea of a "Zar," or group of fellow genies because all the characters in the two Zars were very fleshed out and had vibrant personalities.
Cover: The cover reflected the contents very well - it was a bangle that restrains a genie's magic. It definitely drew me in, too.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal


tags:  fantasy / romance / teenage genie / ya lit

We Should Hang Out Sometime - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 15
Title: We Should Hang Out Sometime
Author: Josh Sundquist
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 12/23/14
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I heard a lot of good things about this book. So, of course, I had to check it out. It was a little disappointing, honestly. I heard it was funny and sweet and each story was different. I do agree that it was funny and pretty sweet. However, I thought the stories began to repeat themselves after the first few.He saw a cute girl and didn't have the courage to do anything about it. I understand exactly what he's talking about, but  they started to get a bit boring about halfway through the book. I did like the little graphs and pictures. They were funny.
     One thing I did like about the main character (also the author) was that he tried so hard to get these girls to like him. He just didn't really understand girls. In one of the first couple stories, he asked a girl out and she said yes. What did he do? He high-five'd her and walked away. For some reason, the girl didn't want to go out with him anymore. I still would have. Anyway, his love life kind of goes downhill from there. 
Memorable or Forgettable: It wasn't forgettable, but it wasn't exactly memorable. I know I've said it before, but it was a little boring. One part that was memorable for me is that he found most of the girls afterwards, when he had long since moved on, and asked them why they didn't like him. The responses were pretty funny. 
Cover: I've got a little love-hate relationship going on with this cover. I love the flow chart idea. It's awesome. However, it doesn't go with the book. At all. The title is awesome, but the cover... It just doesn't go with the stories. 
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal


tags:  memoir / humor / relationship analysis / coming of age / ya lit