Book Review: The Archived

The Archived
by Victoria Schwab

It hasn't even been a year since Ben died, and Mackenzie Bishop is already forgetting what her brother looked like. Her mother copes with the grief by throwing herself with artificial cheerfulness into projects, while her father copes by retreating into himself.

Mac knows something her parents don't: that all the memories of the dead are archived as Histories, which look and act like the living person in every way. Histories usually sleep, but sometimes one awakens and tries to get out; occasionally they're even violent. Mac is a Keeper, tasked with guarding the Narrows that border the Archive and returning any of the Histories who escape. It's a role that she inherited from her grandfather, and one that she must keep absolutely secret, even from her parents. Knowing that Ben's History is in the Archive should be a comfort to Mac, but even a Keeper can't see the Histories, and Mac fears that she is losing her memories of Ben.

When Mac's family moves into the Coronado, an old hotel converted to an apartment building, Mackenzie gets a new territory in the Narrows to patrol. But something is not right — the Histories here are restless, and Mac is busier than ever trying to return them all. What's more, it appears that a murder was committed decades ago at the Coronado, a murder that someone went to a great deal of trouble to cover up. Mac is determined to find out the truth, even if it means putting her life at risk.

The Archived is a moving exploration of life, death, and grief wrapped up in an intriguing, character-driven mystery. Mac is tough — she has to be, to deal with the sometimes violent Histories — and she has the scars to prove it. But even her toughness doesn't make her immune to grief, and like everyone else she'll need to find a way to deal with it and move towards acceptance.

The story has a strong sense of place, and the various locations are lovingly described: the elegant, library-like atmosphere of the Archives, the creepy hallways of the Narrows, and the faded glory of the Coronado, which really becomes a character in its own right. The characters are likewise vividly brought to life. Besides Mac, there is a teen boy, Wes, that she meets in the Coronado. Wes hides a surprising depth and empathy behind a façade of good-natured humor. Mac's relationship with her grandfather is developed through flashbacks. Other minor characters, such as the Librarians in the Archives, are less fully-fleshed-out, but still distinctively characterized.

The setup with the Archives is intriguing and pleasingly unique. The internal logic is pretty consistent and well-developed, with one exception that bothered me. What is the purpose of keeping the Archives in the first place? There doesn't seem to be any reason for it. Loved ones can't visit the Histories, and no one seems to read the Histories except for the occasional Librarian seeking relief from boredom, and even that seems to be discouraged. It seems like an elaborate setup requiring considerable secrecy and no small amount of risk, for no purpose. If you can suspend that disbelief, then The Archived is a pretty enjoyable book.

The Archived is a 2013 Cybils Awards Nominee

Who would like this book:

Although the setup is not strictly supernatural — Histories aren't really ghosts — it should appeal strongly to fans of supernatural fiction. Teens who enjoy mysteries or character-driven fiction may also enjoy this.

Get it from:

• Amazon.com
• Your local independent bookseller through IndieBound
• Barnes & Noble

FTC required disclosure: Reviewed from library copy. The bookstore links above are affiliate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

Book Review: Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy

by Robin LaFevers

Plot: Ismae Rienne still bears the scars of the poison her mother took in an attempt to abort her. Her survival from that, and the scars from the incident, prove that she was sired by the god of Death. At seventeen, when her abusive father sells her to an equally abusive husband, she is spirited away by secret followers of the old gods to the convent of St. Mortain, the god of Death. The convent takes her in, gives her a home, and trains her in all the skills necessary to serve St. Mortain, from poison and weapons training, to history and "feminine artistry."

The convent is loyal to Brittany, and to its young Duchess Anne, who is fighting to retain Brittany's independence from France. When word reaches the convent that there may be a traitor in Anne's court, Ismae is sent on a mission to Anne's court, disguised as the mistress to the nobleman Gavriel Duval. Her instructions are to search for information on the traitor, assassinate anyone marqued for death by St. Mortain (or that she is ordered to assassinate by the convent), and to watch Duval, who may be the traitor. But when her instructions come into conflict with her heart. Ismae must make some difficult decisions.

Notable Characters:

• Ismae Rienne. Ismae is the kind of character I love. Equally adept with poisons and the crossbow, this girl can kick some serious butt. She's not so adept at playing Duval's mistress, however, having skipped many of the lessons in the feminine arts for more time in the poison room. Ismae is a well-rounded and fully developed character who has to make some difficult decisions as the book progresses. The convent took her in and essentially saved her life, and she is sworn to serve them, but her instincts increasingly come into conflict with her instructions from the convent, and she has to choose between honoring her commitment to the convent, and doing what she thinks is right. 
• Sybella. Sybella is a novitiate who starts at the convent at the same time as Ismae. Sybella seems quite mad when she is brought to the convent, but Ismae befriends her and she eventually becomes one of the convent's strongest novitiates. We don't learn much about Sybella; there's hints of a tragic past, and she plays a key role in a few places later in the book, but she's an intriguing character. I was happy to learn that the second book in this series, Dark Triumph, tells Sybella's story, and I'm looking forward to reading it.
• Annith. Annith is another novitiate who was already at the convent when Ismae joins. Annith and  Ismae become good friends, but there are hints that there are some weaknesses in Annith's character. Perhaps we'll learn more about Annith in the third book.
• Gavriel Duval. Gavriel is a nobleman, although a bastard, and appears to be fiercely loyal to Duchess Anne. Initially he dislikes Ismae as much as she dislikes him, but it probably will not surprise anyone that eventually the sparks fly between these two.
• Anne, Duchess of Brittany. Although very young at the time of this story, (13, I think?) Anne is already a determined young ruler playing the political game and dealing with issues that would intimidate even older and more experienced leaders, including the fact that her father promised her in marriage to half a dozen different European nobles and that, as a woman, she had no right to rule. Anne is a historical figure, and her life makes interesting reading (see the link above to the historical note on the author's website for starters).

Worldbuilding: Because Grave Mercy is set in a historical time and place, in many ways the worldbuilding is more about creating a sense of place and bringing to life 15th Century Brittany. This LaFevers does excellently.

Things I liked: 

• See my discussion of Ismae's character above.
• Lots of court intrigue! In fact, as complex as the intrigue is and as numerous the betrayals, LaFevers says in her historical note, "Suffice it to say there were about twice as many schemes going on in real life as I used in the book, including additional suitors, competing claims for the throne, and additional double crossing."
• The romance is credible and manages to be both sweet and hot.
• For a book about assassins serving the god of Death, surprisingly Grace Mercy doesn't glorify death. Ismae discovers that sometimes death can be a mercy, and that redemption is possible.

Issues:

• I can't think of any issues I had with this book, except perhaps that a few threads were left hanging, presumably for the sequels.

Who would like this book:

• In many ways, Grave Mercy is historical fiction, and would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction. However, the court intrigue gives it a fantasy feel, and with the addition of fantasy elements (primarily relating to the god of Death), it would also appeal to readers of traditional fantasy, especially those who like both strong female protagonists and a little romance.

Get it from:

• Amazon.com
• Your local independent bookseller through IndieBound
• Barnes & Noble

FTC required disclosure: Review copy sent by the publisher for Cybils Awards judging. The bookstore links above are affiliate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

Book Review: Losers in Space

 Losers in Space

by John Barnes

Plot: In a future where celebrity status is regulated by the government, a group of teen celebrity offspring stowaway on a ship to Mars in order to get media attention and boost their recognition scores enough to qualify for celebrity status. To the teens, it's just another party, until things go very, very wrong! Adrift in space with only their own skills to draw on and a sociopath on board, the teens must learn to rely on themselves and each other as they try to survive and find a way to get home.

Notable Characters:

• Susan Tervaille. Protagonist and first-person narrator. Daughter of a classical actor, Susan was interested in science at a younger age, but gave it up when she realized that science was never going to achieve celebrity status for her. Now, she focuses on partying and "styling" for the camera, but as much as she tries to deny it, "Crazy Science Girl" still lives inside her.
• Glisters. Initially portrayed as a fairly repulsive boy who makes porn videos, Glisters turns out to be one of the best characters in the book. He's incredibly intelligent, and really sweet in a bit of a geeky way.
• Derlock Slabilis. Susan's almost-boyfriend and de facto leader of the little group. Arrogant and self-centered; if it weren't for the fact that Susan is using him as much as he's using her, it would be hard to understand what she sees in him.
• Fleeta. Formerly Susan's best friend and another former science girl. Fleeta destroyed her brain taking the drug happistuff, and now she'll never be more than a child mentally.
• Every character in this book is interesting, unique, and thoroughly developed.

Worldbuilding: A well fleshed-out dystopian future. Barnes developed the social aspects as thoroughly as the science, and did a great job of portraying the customs and language.

Things I liked: 

• The best thing about this book is watching the teens develop. They start the book as spoiled, self-centered teens who are only interested in partying and fame, but the crisis forces them to grow up. Most of them turn out to be quite exceptional and likable people; not only do they each grow individually, but they bond and develop real friendships in a way they never could when partying was their primary focus.
• After the first hundred pages or so, the plot is also quite suspenseful and exciting.

Issues:

• The first hundred pages were difficult to read, and honestly, I probably wouldn't have finished this book if it hadn't been so highly recommended by a fellow Cybils panelist. I'm truly glad that I did, because it turned out to be one of the best books I've read, but that first 100 pages makes it a difficult sell to teens. First, the characters are not very likable, not even Susan. This is intentional and necessary in order to see the dramatic growth that they experience over the course of the story, but reading about these self-centered and superficial teens partying and posing for the camera was difficult.
• The other thing that made the first part of the book difficult is what Barnes calls the "Notes for the Interested." His intent was to segregate the difficult science and social concepts into separate notes, where anyone interested can read them and anyone not interested can skip them. I think that it doesn't work, though, because every time I hit one it yanked me out of the story. I'm actually interested in the science, but would rather see it incorporated as part of the story, as is usually done in science fiction.

Who would like this book:

• This is difficult because of the first hundred pages problem. I actually think that a wide variety of readers would enjoy this, because it manages to be both hard SF and character-driven fiction. But the problem is, I think, that some of the people who would enjoy the hard SF aspect won't enjoy reading about the partying teens, and some of the people who would enjoy the social/character aspects of it might be put off by the science, even if it is in skippable notes.
• In the end, I think both types of readers will enjoy it, so if you are a teacher or librarian, all I can say is recommend it highly to students, possibly with a caveat about the slow beginning, and hope for the best.

Get it from:

• Amazon.com
• Your local independent bookseller through IndieBound
• Barnes & Noble

FTC required disclosure: Reviewed from library copy. The bookstore links above are affiliate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

Book Review: Firebrand

Firebrand
by Gillian Philip

Seth is the bastard sun of the dun captain Griogar. His father barely acknowledges his existence, and most of the people in the dun revile and torment him, when they aren't ignoring him. But when his older half-brother Conal takes him under his wing, the two form a special bond. So when Conal is exiled to the full-mortal realm, of course Seth goes with him.

Seth and Conal are Sithe, and have the ability to speak mind-to-mind. Sithe also live extremely long lives, but they aren't immortal and can die on the point of a sword—or in a fire. And in the late 16th century, full mortals consider Sithe abilities to be witchcraft, and witches are burned at the stake. Can Seth and Conal survive long enough to live out the term of their exile and return to their own world?

Firebrand is an exciting story driven by a strong narrative voice that leaps off the page. Seth is an interesting character: stubborn, arrogant, and temperamental, yet redeemed by an abiding loyalty to his brother. Although initially he appears to care about no one but himself, he grows through his love and loyalty to Conal, and he shows a deep ability to care in spite of his prickly exterior. Gillian Philip did an amazing job of creating a narrator who should be unlikeable, but whom we can’t help but begin to like and care about.

The plot is exciting, with enough action to keep the pages turning. In fact, it leaps right into the action as Conal is about to be burned at the stake, then much of the book is a flashback that shows how they got to that point. There’s also plenty of political intrigue, and romance as well.

Firebrand appears to be primarily only available in the UK at this time. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy as a Cybils panelist. There are some copies available on Amazon Marketplace, but other than that, readers in the US may have difficulty finding copies. I hope that this excellent fantasy series will be available in a US edition before too long.

Firebrand was a 2010 Cybils nominee in the Fantasy & Science Fiction—Teen category.

Firebrand on Amazon.com (try the used and new link)

Firebrand on Amazon UK

FTC required disclosure: Review copy provided by the publisher to enable me to write this review. Some of the bookstore links above are affiliate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

Book Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Please Ignore Vera Dietz
by A.S. King

To say my friend died is one thing.

To say my friend screwed me over and then died five months later is another.

— Vera Dietz (from the prologue)

Vera's best friend Charlie is dead, and Vera has to live forever with the fact that she hated him at the end, that he rejected her and hurt her after a life-long friendship. While Vera tries to come to terms with his death and the events preceding it, she delivers pizzas, fights with her dad, makes out with an older guy at the town landmark pagoda, and secretly takes up drinking. She also has to deal with the thousand Charlies who visit her, trying to get her to clear his name. But Vera isn't ready yet, and isn't sure that she wants to.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a smart, intense book written in an authentic teen voice. Most of the book is narrated by Vera, but there are occasional interjections from Charlie, Vera's dad, and even the pagoda. Scenes in the present alternate with Vera's memories of past times with Charlie, memories that all have relevance to what happened in the end. Part of the pleasure of this book is the mystery; the truth is revealed gradually as the layers of exactly what happened are rolled back.

The truth that is revealed is horrible, and sad, and deep. This is a story of a lost soul, and maybe if the people around him had done things differently, it might have made a difference. And yet, as layer after layer is revealed, one also begins to see that the truth is complicated, and that knowing the right thing to do isn't always easy. In the end, this is a book that made me cry.

Recommended age range: teen

Please Ignore Vera Dietz was a 2010 Cybils nominee in the Fantasy/Science Fiction: Teen category.

FTC required disclosure: Book reviewed from library copy. The Amazon.com links above are Amazon Associate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

Book Review: The Curse of the Wendigo

The Curse of the Wendigo
The Monstrumologist, Book 2
by Rick Yancey

This sequel to last year's The Monstrumologist, finds Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, the Monstrumologist of the title, in the interesting position of arguing against the existence of a monster. When Warthrop receives word that his former mentor intends to propose adding the Wendigo, a mythical American monster that resembles a vampire in some ways, to the canon of Monstrumology at the next conference, Warthrop prepares a speech in opposition to the inclusion of such superstitious nonsense. When Warthrop's old friend John Chanler disappears on a quest for the Wendigo, Warthrop and his young assistant, narrator Will Henry, begin a dangerous journey through the Canadian wilderness in search of Chanler, even though Warthrop believes that search to be hopeless.

I've never been a fan of horror, but I love this series in spite of my squeamishness. I probably would never have picked up the first book, especially with it's original hideous cover, except for three things: it was nominated for the Cybils in 2009, I'm a fan of Rick Yancey (here, here, and here) and my teenage son, who also doesn't like horror, gave it his highest recommendation.

The series is wonderfully written, in a style reminiscent of classic horror, yet with a modern sensibility that will appeal to today's teens. There are some, er, pretty graphic scenes, so this isn't a series for younger children or sensitive readers.

For most of the book, The Curse of the Wendigo is slightly less of a bloodbath than the original Monstrumologist book, and moves a little more slowly, relying on suspense more than outright horror. However, there are still enough detailed descriptions of bodies with entrails hanging out and eyes removed to satisfy the most jaded horror reader.

But really, The Curse of the Wendigo is very much a character driven book. And what characters! I adore Will Henry. On the surface he is obsequious and timid, yet underneath he has a depth of resolve and courage, which is revealed to a much greater degree in this book. We also see Dr. Warthrop in new light here, as some of his past, and some unexpected aspects of his personality, are revealed. Through their hardships, his relationship with Will Henry develops, and while he is still the same arrogant and impatient doctor, by the end some change has crept in. There are some new characters introduced, including Lilly, a delightfully obnoxious 13-year-old girl who makes it her mission to torment Will, and who is certainly destined to be the first female Monstrumologist.

The Curse of the Wendigo was a 2010 Cybils nominee in the Fantasy/Science Fiction: Teen category.

FTC required disclosure: Review copy provided by the publisher to enable me to write this review. The Amazon.com links above are Amazon Associate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

Book Review: Wolfley-O's

Wolfley-O's
by Sallie Lowenstein

On the last day of the first week of first grade, Davey doesn't want to go back to school. The other kids pick on him, call him names, and push him down on the playground. Then he discovers an unusual box of cereal in the pantry. On the box is a space that reads, "Wolfley-O's! The cereal that ____________________________." After Davey fills in the blank with "Builds Your Confidence," he finds that he does, indeed, have more confidence the next day at school.

Throughout the week, more blanks for different attributes appear on the cereal box, and as Davey fills them in, he finds that things improve at school. The week culminates when a recipe for Wolfley-O cookies appears on the box, and Davey makes the cookies to share with the other kids at school.

Wolfley-O's is a fun and empowering story for kids about the power of imagination to shape our world. Sallie Lowenstein understands well, and does a great job of portraying, the fluid line between imagination and reality for young children. Is the box of Wolfley-O's real or in Davey's imagination? It really won't matter to the kids reading the story.

Lowenstein is good at getting into the mind of a child, and Davey is an appealing character that kids will identify with. The art is lovely, with great attention to detail; for example, Davey's socks are bunched up and coming off in one illustration. The kids at school start out as a child's stick figures at first, then gradually gain detail and transform into fully drawn and shaded characters as Davey gets to know them.

The recipe for Wolfley-O's cookies is included in the story. It sounds delicious enough that I'd like to try it, yet simple enough for a young child to make (with adult supervision).

Wolfley-O's is a Cybils nominee in the Fiction Picture Books category.

FTC required disclosure: Review copy (F&G) provided by the publisher to enable me to write this review.

Book Review: Bones of Faerie

Bones of Faerie
by Janni Lee Simner

The war with Faerie ended before Liza was born, but every day she lives with the consequences. As if living in a world where plants attack and kill, and crops resist being harvested, isn't reminder enough, her father never lets her forget for a minute that magic is evil and constant vigilance is required. When Liza's sister is born with clear hair, a sign of magic, her father leaves her on a hillside to die. But when Liza discovers that she also has magic, knowing that her father will kill her, she runs away before her father can find out.

Liza and Matthew, a boy from the village, find their way to another town, where they learn that not everyone lives the way they do, and that magic has the potential to help as well as harm. When Liza discovers that her mother is in danger, she and Matthew set off to find and rescue her. Along the way, they learn that the truth of the war is more complex than they were taught, and that war has consequences for both sides.

Bones of Faerie is a highly original and engrossing book. The world building is rich and creative. This very unusual post-apocalyptic world is brought to life by the beautiful writing, with just enough detail to make it vivid, but not too much detail to slow down the pace of the book. The characters are likewise well-developed and sympathetic. In a time when there's no shortage of books about Faeirie, Bones of Faerie is a real standout that should be at the top of your list.

Bones of Faeirie was a 2009 Cybils nominee.

Book borrowed from the library. The Amazon.com links above are Amazon Associate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links.

Book Review: The Tomorrow Code

The Tomorrow Code
by Brian Falkner

When New Zealand teens Tane and Rebecca start receiving coded messages from the future, they realize that the world is in trouble. As they begin to decipher the code, they discover that the messages come from their future selves - and contain a worrisome SOS. Tane and Rebecca, along with Tane's brother Fatboy, frantically work to decode the messages and follow the instructions before it's too late. The three teens may be the only ones who stand between the world and disaster.

The Tomorrow Code is a highly suspenseful, exciting eco-thriller reminiscent of the work of Michael Crichton, but with better writing. It's a terrifying page-turner, with interesting, believable characters. Tane and Fatboy are Maori, and although they are in most ways modern teenagers, they are also in touch with their Maori heritage, a heritage that becomes important later in the story. The glimpses of Maori culture are interesting.

Rebecca is brilliant, the daughter of scientists. She excels at math and science, but it's interesting that she isn't always the one to solve the problems. I love the importance that the author gives to multiple intelligences, as it takes the very different skills of the three of them to solve all the problems.

The Tomorrow Code is a 2009 Cybils Fantasy/Science Fiction - teen nominee.

Edited to add: There's a lot of great information about the science, technology, geography and culture from the book, including a stunning gallery of New Zealand photos that has me dying to go there, on the Tomorrow Code web site.

Disclaimers: I received a review copy from the publisher to evaluate for the Cybils award. The Amazon links above are Amazon Associate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

Cybils 2009 Nominee Widget

Tracy Grand of Jacketflap has once again created this terrific Cybils nominee widget. It rotates through the Cybils nominees and displays a different one each time the page is loaded. You can get the widget for your own blog here. The best part is that it's completely customizable! You can choose the colors and the categories that you want to display. I set mine to display the Fantasy/Science Fiction nominees, of course, and I also included the Graphic Novel nominees since some of them have SFF themes.

Book Review: Tiger Moon

Tiger Moon
by Antonia Michaelis
Translated by Anthea Bell

When Safia becomes the eighth wife of the Rajah Ahmed Mudhi, she knows that she will die. Safia's name means "virtue," but Safia is not a virgin, and when the Rajah finds out that he has been deceived, he will kill her. Luckily, the Rajah is ill right after their wedding, and Safia has a few more days to live. Like Scheherazade, Safia tells stories while she waits to die. But Safia's listener is not her husband, but a young eunuch called Lalit.

A young thief named Farhad Kamal finds a silver amulet in a lotus flower, which marks him as the hero chosen to rescue the god Krishna's daughter from the demon king Ravana, who plans to marry her at the next full moon. Farhad knows that he is no hero, but Krishna makes it clear that if Farhad doesn't succeed, he'll be reborn in his next life as a worm, and the cycle of his lives will be prolonged to infinity before achieving Nirvana. Not wanting to risk such a fate, Farhad sets off to find the magical mount promised to him by Krishna, to take him to the city at the heart of the desert of Rajasthan where Krishna's daughter is being held.

As Safia tells Lalit the story of Farhad, both of them are transformed by the story in unexpected ways. And Farhad himself just might become a hero after all.

I adore Tiger Moon! It's such a beautiful story, richly written with a folk-tale feel, yet it also has a smart, sassy voice and an almost modern sensibility that makes it really fun to read. Here's an example:

Sometimes he visited one of the great temples to pray to the gods, and as chance would have it, he usually came out again with a handful of coins from the plate left out for offerings. He had tried going into the new British church, too, but the donation boxes there were kept well locked, so he decided against converting to Christianity. The Muslims were clever and had driven him straight out of their mosque. So Farhad remained a Hindu out of what might be called his economic convictions, and on the whole he looked after himself successfully.

The writing is lovely, and Anthea Bell has done a wonderful job of translating it. The story resonates with warmth and humor. It's a poignant story of sacrifice and true heroism. And who wouldn't love Nitish, the sacred white tiger with a fear of water?

Tiger Moon is a 2009 Cybils nominee.

Tiger Moon does contain some mature content.

Disclaimers: I received a review copy from the publisher to evaluate for the Cybils award. The Amazon links above are Amazon Associate links, and I earn a very small percentage of any sales made through the links. Neither of these things influenced my review.

2009 Cybils Nominees: Fantasy/Science Fiction Teen

The following books were nominated for the 2009 Cybils in the Fantasy/Science Fiction category at the Teen level:

Soulstice (The Devouring #2)
by Simon Holt
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Melanie
Reviewed by: Nettle

Academy 7
by Anne Osterlund
Speak
Nominated by: Mia Thompson
Reviewed by: Nettle

Amaranth Enchantment, The
by Julie Berry
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: Stacey (AKA Aubrey)
Reviewed by: Gwenda007

Another Faust
by Daniel And Dina Nayeri
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Finn

ArchEnemy (The Looking Glass Wars)
by Frank Beddor
Dial
Nominated by: Shannon Messenger

As You Wish
by Jackson Pearce
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Abby
Reviewed by: Nettle

Ash
by Malinda Lo
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Michelle

Ask and the Answer, The: Chaos Walking: Book Two
by Patrick Ness
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Ana
Reviewed by: SheilaRuth | Tadamack

Awakening, The (Darkest Powers, Book 2)
by Kelley Armstrong
HarperCollins
Nominated by: Aja Romano
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Backtracked
by Pedro de Alcantara
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: nikithal

Bad Girls Don't Die
by Katie Alender
Hyperion
Nominated by: Debra
Reviewed by: Nettle

Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie
by Maggie Stiefvater
Flux
Nominated by: Jill Tullo
Reviewed by: Angiegirl

Betraying Season (Leland Sisters, Book 2)
by Marissa Doyle
Henry Holt
Nominated by: Shani

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4)
by Richelle Mead
Razorbill
Nominated by: Sarah Weiss
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Bloodhound (The Legend of Beka Cooper, Book 2)
by Tamora Pierce
Random House Children's Books
Nominated by: Lizzy
Reviewed by: Angiegirl | SheilaRuth | Tadamack

Blue Moon: The Immortals
by Alyson Noel
St. Martin's Griffin
Nominated by: Claudia

Bones of Faerie
by Janni Lee Simner
Random House Children's Books
Nominated by: Casey Titschinger
Reviewed by: Nettle

Brain Finds a Leg, The
by Martin Chatterton
Peachtree
Nominated by: Lesley

Caenus and The Quiver of Artemis (Of Kings And Gods: Book 1)
by Christopher S Ledbetter
Outskirts Press
Nominated by: Chris Ledbetter

Candor
by Pam Bachorz
Egmont USA
Nominated by: Chelsea Campbell

Carbon Diaries: 2015, The
by Saci Lloyd
Holiday House
Nominated by: kathleen morandini

Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6)
by Rachel Caine
Signet Books
Nominated by: Sarah Simpson
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
by Suzanne Collins
Scholastic
Nominated by: Dawn Mooney
Reviewed by: Angiegirl | SheilaRuth | Tadamack | twistedquill

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments)
by Cassandra Clare
Margaret K. McElderry
Nominated by: Jessica

Coffeehouse Angel
by Suzanne Selfors
Walker Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Elaine

Creature of the Night
by Kate Thompson
Roaring Brook
Nominated by: Laurie Schneider
Reviewed by: Nettle | Tadamack

Dark Calling (The Demonata #9)
by Darren Shan
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Gila Davidson
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Dark Visions: The Strange Power; The Possessed; The Passion
by L.J. Smith
Simon Pulse
Nominated by: Alexa Nagasue

Daughter of the Flames
by Zoë Marriott
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Stella Patel
Reviewed by: SheilaRuth

Dead Girl in Love: A Dead Girl Book
by Linda Joy Singleton
Flux
Nominated by: Kim Baccellia

Demon's Lexicon, The
by Sarah Rees Brennan
Margaret K. McElderry
Nominated by: Nick Jessee

Dreaming Anastasia: A Novel of Love, Magic, and the Power of Dreams
by Joy Preble
Jabberwocky/Sourcebooks
Nominated by: Sara Lea
Reviewed by: Tadamack | twistedquill

Dull Boy
by Sarah Cross
Dutton Juvenile
Nominated by: R.J. Anderson

DupliKate
by Cherry Cheva
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Katie Butler

Dust of 100 Dogs, The
by A.S. King
Flux
Nominated by: Lisa McMann
Reviewed by: Tadamack | twistedquill

Eternal
by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Angela Tatone

Eternal Kiss, The: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire
by
Running Press Kids
Nominated by: Jia Koutsou

Everafter, The
by Amy Huntley
Balzer + Bray
Nominated by: Karen Strong

Evermore: The Immortals
by Alyson Noel
St. Martin's Griffin
Nominated by: Claudia Chavez

Evidence of Angels
by Suza Scalora
HarperCollins
Nominated by: Suza Scalora

Eyes Like Stars: Theatre Illuminata, Act I
by Lisa Mantchev
Feiwel & Friends
Nominated by: Shelly Burns

Fade (Wake, Book 2)
by Lisa McMann
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Sarah
Reviewed by: Angiegirl

Fairy Tale
by Cyn Balog
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Mandy Hubbard
Reviewed by: Nettle

Falling Bakward
by Henry Melton
Wire Rim Books
Nominated by: Benjamin Potter
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Fate
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Claire

Fire
by Kristin Cashore
Dial
Nominated by: Jenny Moss
Reviewed by: Angiegirl

Firebirds Soaring: An Anthology of Original Speculative Fiction
by Nancy Springer
Firebird Books
Nominated by: Sheryl
Reviewed by: SheilaRuth

Forest Born (Books of Bayern)
by Shannon Hale
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: Tiffany Emerick

Forest of Hands and Teeth, The
by Carrie Ryan
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Sam Musher
Reviewed by: SheilaRuth | twistedquill

Fragile Eternity
by Melissa Marr
HarperCollins
Nominated by: Susan
Reviewed by: Angiegirl

Gateway to DreamWorld
by Brenda Estacio
Eloquent Books
Nominated by: Marilyn Thomas

Generation Dead: Kiss of Life
by Daniel Waters
Hyperion
Nominated by: Nora Olsen

Ghost Town
by Richard W. Jennings
Houghton Mifflin
Nominated by: Charlotte

Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
by Marilyn Kaye
Kingfisher
Nominated by: Faith
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Girl in the Arena
by Lise Haines
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: Mel Robinson
Reviewed by: twistedquill

Give Up the Ghost
by Megan Crewe
Henry Holt
Nominated by: Jenny Moss

Goddess Boot Camp (Oh. My. Gods.)
by Tera Lynn Childs
Dutton Juvenile
Nominated by: Issa

Guardian Of The Darkness (Moribito)
by Nahoko Uehashi
Arthur A Levine
Nominated by: Sara Lewis Holmes

Half World
by Hiromi Goto
Puffin Canada
Nominated by: Sarah Olutola
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Highway to Hell (Maggie Quinn: Girl Vs Evil)
by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Dena

Hollow, The
by Jessica Verday
Simon Pulse
Nominated by: Sarah

Hunchback Assignments, The
by Arthur Slade
Wendy Lamb Books
Nominated by: rachel

Hunger: A Gone Novel
by Michael Grant
Katherine Tegen Books
Nominated by: Heather Kemp

Hunted (House of Night, Book 5)
by P. C. Cast
St. Martins Press
Nominated by: Ellen Trieu

Hush, Hush
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Demi Tate

I Was A Teenage Alien
by Jane Greenhill
The Wild Rose Press
Nominated by: Laurie J. Edwards

Ice
by Sarah Beth Durst
Margaret K. McElderry
Nominated by: Sarah Rettger
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Immortal
by Gillian Shields
Katherine Tegen Books
Nominated by: AudryT

Intertwined (Harlequin Teen)
by Gena Showalter
Harlequin Teen
Nominated by: Em King
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
by Beth Fantaskey
Harcourt
Nominated by: Amber
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Kiss in Time, A
by Alex Flinn
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Oria
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Legacy
by Tom Sniegoski
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Leann Markus

Leviathan
by Scott Westerfeld
Simon Pulse
Nominated by: Jeff Pack

Libyrinth
by Pearl North
Tor Teen
Nominated by: Andrea

Lips Touch
by Laini Taylor
Arthur A Levine
Nominated by: Jolie Stekly
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Malice
by Chris Wooding
Scholastic
Nominated by: Michael
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Maze Runner, The (Maze Runner Trilogy (Hardback))
by James Dashner
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Heather

Meridian
by Amber Kizer
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Sara Grochowski

Midnight Charter, The
by David Whitley
Roaring Brook
Nominated by: Kathleen Jones
Reviewed by: SheilaRuth

Mirrorscape (Mirrorscape Trilogy (Hardback))
by Mike Wilks
Egmont USA
Nominated by: Maya McQueen
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Monstrumologist, The
by Rick Yancey
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Nettle

My Fair Godmother
by Janette Rallison
Walker Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Stacey (AKA Aubrey)

My Soul to Take (Harlequin Teen)
by Rachel Vincent
Harlequin Teen
Nominated by: Tez Miller
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Need
by Carrie Jones
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: Kate Messner
Reviewed by: Angiegirl

Never Slow Dance with a Zombie
by E. Van Lowe
Tor Teen
Nominated by: Melissa K.

Night Runner: A Novel
by Max Turner
St. Martin's Griffin
Nominated by: Bri Meets Books

Novel Of The Titanic, A (Distant Waves)
by Suzanne Weyn
Scholastic
Nominated by: Vikki VanSickle

Once a Princess (Sasharia En Garde)
by Sherwood Smith
Samhain Publishing
Nominated by: Heather Zundel

Once a Witch
by Carolyn MacCullough
Clarion Books
Nominated by: Raina

Pace, The
by Shelena Shorts
Lands Atlantic Publishing, LLC
Nominated by: Valerie

Pastworld
by Ian Beck
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: elaina

Prada and Prejudice
by Mandy Hubbard
Razorbill
Nominated by: Cyn Balog

Princess and the Bear, The
by Mette Ivie Harrison
HarperTeen
Nominated by: melissa

Princess of the Midnight Ball
by Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: melissa
Reviewed by: Nettle | SheilaRuth

Prism
by Faye Kellerman
HarperCollins
Nominated by: patricia

Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters Trilogy, Book I)
by Michelle Zink
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Sarah Ockler
Reviewed by: Nettle

Radiant Darkness
by Emily Whitman
Greenwillow Books
Nominated by: jone

Rampant
by Diana Peterfreund
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Samantha
Reviewed by: Angiegirl

Ruined: A Novel
by Paula Morris
Point
Nominated by: Brooke

Sacred Scars (A Resurrection of Magic, Book 2)
by Kathleen Duey
Atheneum
Nominated by: Jenn R
Reviewed by: SheilaRuth

Sea Change
by Aimee Friedman
Point
Nominated by: Sarah Weiss

Second Skin
by Jessica Wollman
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: marybeth

Serendipity Market
by Penny Blubaugh
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Caitlin Rourke

Shadow on the Stones (The Sacred Stones)
by Moyra Caldecott
Tricycle Press
Nominated by: Laura Mancuso

Shadowed Summer
by Saundra Mitchell
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Erin Dionne
Reviewed by: Nettle

Shimmer
by Dallas Reed
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Devorah

Shiver
by Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic
Nominated by: Jeni Bell
Reviewed by: Angiegirl | twistedquill

Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia
by Cindy Pon
Greenwillow Books
Nominated by: Angie Frazier

Singing, The: The Fourth Book of Pellinor (Pellinor Series)
by Alison Croggon
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Emily Pate

Siren, The
by Kiera Cass
iUniverse
Nominated by: Samantha Clanton

Snap
by Carol Snow
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Christina

Son of the Great River
by Elijah Meeks
Booklocker
Nominated by: Sarah Sammis

Sorceress, The (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)
by Michael Scott
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Kristine Michael

Soul Enchilada
by David Macinnis Gill
Greenwillow Books
Nominated by: cindy

Soulless
by Christopher Golden
MTV
Nominated by: Little Willow
Reviewed by: Nettle

Splendor Falls, The
by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Liz

Starfire Angels
by Melanie Nilles
Prairie Star Publishing
Nominated by: Melanie Nilles

Stealing Death
by Janet Lee Carey
Egmont USA
Nominated by: Erin McIntosh

Strange Angels
by Lili St. Crow
Razorbill
Nominated by: Erica
Reviewed by: Tadamack

Swoon
by Nina Malkin
Simon Pulse
Nominated by: Steph Su

Tales From Outer Suburbia
by Shaun Tan
Arthur A Levine
Nominated by: Liz Jones

Tear Collector, The
by Patrick Jones
Walker Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Thea

Tenth Grade Bleeds (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod)
by Heather Brewer
Dutton Juvenile
Nominated by: Jill Foltz

Thirteenth Child (Frontier Magic Book)
by Patricia C. Wrede
Scholastic
Nominated by: Marie

Tiger Moon
by Antonia Michaelis
Amulet
Nominated by: Carolyn Dooman

Tomorrow Code, The
by Brian Falkner
Random House Children's Books
Nominated by: Sarah (aquafortis)

Vampire Diaries, The: The Return: Nightfall
by L. J. Smith
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Alyssa Campbell

Van Alen Legacy, The (Blue Bloods, Book 4)
by Melissa De La Cruz
Hyperion
Nominated by: Emillie
Reviewed by: twistedquill

Waking, The: Dreams of the Dead
by Thomas Randall
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: Della

Walls Have Eyes, The
by Clare B. Dunkle
Ginee Seo Books
Nominated by: Laini Bostian

Watersmeet
by Ellen Jensen Abbott
Marshall Cavendish Childrens Books
Nominated by: Beth Kizer

Wings (Aprilynne Pike (Hardback))
by Aprilynne Pike
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Robin Prehn
Reviewed by: Tadamack | twistedquill

Wish After Midnight, A
by Zetta Elliott
CreateSpace
Nominated by: Colleen Mondor
Reviewed by: SheilaRuth

Wondrous Strange
by Lesley Livingston
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Barbara Etlin

Worldweavers: Cybermage
by Alma Alexander
HarperTeen
Nominated by: R.A. Deckert

Young City, The: The Unwritten Books
by James Bow
Dundurn Books
Nominated by: Erin Noteboom

Zenith
by Julie Bertagna
Walker Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Erin Bush