Day 28: 45 Days of Summer

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Well, I'm not going to say too much about this book, other than you must read it!

And if you've already read it, then you should read the companion novels and the "sequel" (Son) immediately.

All of these books are incredible, and I've been lobbying for The Giver to become an all-grade read for my 6th graders.

It's a "classic" (I actually hate that word to describe books), that everyone should read at some point in their life. And now you really need to read it because the movie will be coming out next week.

I will be honest that I don't know how I feel about the movie because the trailers I've seen don't seem to be in line with how I remember the tone of the book. 

If you've read the book and you see the movie, let me know what you think!

Trailer Tuesday

The Maze Runner books have been wildly popular at my school since the first one was published. We are all very excited for the Maze Runner movie to hit theaters in September, 2014.

If you are on any sort of social media, you can find/follow the author, James Dashner, the series, and/or the movie to keep updated. There is also a website for the movie...click here.

Here's the first of the movie's trailers. I'm sure there will be more all summer long.

Top 10 Books at Evergreen This Week

The library catalog system "tracks" top titles for our library, and it is something that I enjoy looking at quite frequently to see what's "hot." Of course, I use the term "track" loosely, because I haven't quite figured out the formula it uses. For example, I think that it should take number of holds on the book into account, but it doesn't.

Regardless, I thought that I would share the Top 10 books in our Evergreen Library this week. Now, if you are a student and click on the "Top 10" in the library catalog, this list is for the past 30 days. I can actually pull up reports to change the time frame that it uses when calculating titles. It's actually interesting to note that this changes the titles quite a bit, and takes into account suddenly popular titles vs. titles that sustain popularity.

So, for the last 7 days, the top books at Evergreen were:

1. Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown. TOTALLY surprising, and completely due to the fact that I ordered two additional copies this week and I booktalked this to 6th grade classes a lot recently. It flew off the shelves.

2. Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson. Love this book and while it is always popular, the reason it hit number 2 is that it's a top choice for our 8th grade Sci-Fi unit which just started this week. All 9 copies FLEW off the shelves yesterday.

3. & 4. Catching Fire and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Not a shocker with the movie coming out next week.

5. House of Hades by Rick Riordan. Again, not a shocker. Riordan's books are always popular with my students, and the hold list continues to grow every day, even though we have multiple copies and students are reading it fast. If the system factored holds into the calculation, this book would be number one without any competition.

6. Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I actually can't figure out why this book is so much higher in the top ten than Divergent, because students are always asking me for Divergent and with all the movie buzz, I would have thought that all the recent recruits to the series would have pushed the first one into the lead.

7. Matched by Ally Condie. Again, not a surprise considering the Sci-Fi unit. This is always a popular series at Evergreen.

8. Wimpy Kid #8: Hard Luck. It's kind of fitting that this book is 8th on the list...but also surprising. The only reason that this is so low on the list in my opinion (I expected it to be 2 or 3) is that many of my kids must have purchased their own copies from their local bookstore.

9. Swim the Fly by Don Calame. Always popular at Evergreen, this is falling down the top 10 charts as the 8th grade Humor unit is ending.

10. Divergent by Veronica Roth. Barely made it into the top 10 this week. But long-term, this one is always in the top. And deservedly so!

So, what does this tell us? 
I'm sad that there's not a non-fiction title among the top 10. Something I will continue to work on.
Series are HOT at Evergreen. I often joke that if I call it a series, they will read it.
Dystopian is not dead yet, at least in my neck of the woods.

What are your top titles?

Series Saturday: Review: Breathe (Crossan)

Title: Breathe
Author: Crossan
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Series, Survival, Adventure
Pages: 373
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Ages: 6th-10th grades

I was completely taken in by this series starter last year and talked it up to students all the time. Fans of the dystopian genre are always looking for something new to sink their teeth into and this one is a good one!

From the Publisher: 
The world has no air. If you want to survive, you pay to breathe. But what if you can't? And what if you think everything could be different? Ever since the Switch, when the oxygen levels plummeted and most of humanity died, the survivors have been protected in glass domes full of manufactured air. Protected . . . or trapped? Or controlled? Alina's a revolutionary who believes we can save the environment. Quinn's a Premium who's never had to worry about having enough air. His best friend, Bea, is an Auxiliary who's never worried about anything but having enough air. When the three cross paths, they will change everything.

Unlike some books in the genre, this one felt "real" to me...like it could really happen. I can see how our world would get to a place where corporations and/or governments are selling oxygen. I enjoyed that this story alternates from all three teen's perspectives in short, cliff-hanger chapters. You become invested in each character. Fans of the Team Gale/Team Peeta debate will appreciate the elements of romance in this one. But there is also something for sci-fi fans that like adventure and/or the environment. 

Summer is a terrific time to read this book as the 2nd book in the series, Resist, comes out in October. (I've already read this one...can't wait to tell you more about it).

Series Saturday: Review: Selection (Cass)

Title: Selection; Elite
Author: Cass
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Contests, Prince/Princess, Marriage, Love
Pages: 327 (Selection)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (for both)
 Ages: Middle School and up

In this first installment of "Series Saturday," I thought that I would highlight a series that I recently discovered. This is not a new series, since the second book came out in April, but for some reason I never got around to reading it when the first book hit the shelves. And I think I know why...I have a natural aversion to girls in floofy dresses on the cover of the books I'm reading.

So, in my case, this was a terrific lesson in "Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover!" Dang, all this time I've missed out knowing these characters.

From the Publisher: 
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself'and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


I finished the first book, and am waiting until school starts so I can "steal" our library copy of "The Elite." I am very excited to know where the story is going, and what is going to happen to America...and who she will choose. This book has a little bit for everyone: romance, action, political intrigue...and girls in fancy dresses if that's what you like. 

Trailer Tuesday

This Trailer Tuesday (and all Trailer Tuesdays this summer) will also count for Book a Day reviews because it is a book that I included on my Summer Reading suggestions. 

I have already purchased copies for the library and will be booktalking this quite a bit when I return to school in the fall. I think that fans of dystopian series like Matched and The Hunger Games will enjoy this book. Happy Reading!

From the publisher:
Two of you exist.
Only one will survive.

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future.

Book to Movie News: Maze Runner

Many of us at Evergreen are very excited for the upcoming Maze Runner movie! If you haven't read this series, you should take the summer to devour it in time for the February 2014 release date.

Recently, MTV (and then everyone else) published stills from the movie production. Click here to check them out!

And to say up to date on all the Maze Runner news, keep up with author James Dashner on his blog.

Trailer Tuesday: Legend & Prodigy (Lu)

Today is the day that I have been waiting for since I first picked up Legend by Marie Lu. The sequel, Prodigy, has been released!

Now, to be honest, I read an advanced copy of Prodigy before today. But I wanted to share the excitement with you so I thought that I'd use today's Trailer Tuesday to introduce you to both books. If you haven't read them yet, run right now and check them out from the library! You will not regret being introduced to June and Day.

Trailer Tuesday: Breathe (Crossan)

This week's Trailer Tuesday is more of an author interview. Sarah Crossan, author of Breathe, tells us where she got her inspiration for the book...and some good advice for wannabe writers out there!

If you are a fan of dystopian/sci-fi books and you haven't read Breathe yet, I highly recommend it (and not just because her inspiration for the story was a trip she made to Washington). 

In this post-apocalyptic world, there is a shortage of air, and the government controls who gets to breathe it. I enjoyed that this story is told from the alternating perspectives of the three main characters, and that it leaves room for the story to continue (in a planned trilogy). Great, suspenseful writing.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Son (Lowry)

Title: Son
Author: Lowry
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Mothers, Adventure
Pages: 393
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

There are legions of fans of Lowry's "The Giver" (as well as it's companion novels, "Gathering Blue" and "Messenger"). Her latest title in the "series" is a legitimate sequel or conclusion to the wildly popular Giver, and will have fans clamoring to find the answers to questions left very much unanswered.

They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn't exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child. 

And readers will realize that they know her child. Her son is baby Gabe, the baby Jonas formed a bond with in The Giver. The baby scheduled to be "released." 

Now, I'll have to admit that one of the things that is most appealing to me about The Giver is the fact that the ending is so open to interpretation. I have always loved that there were no concrete answers. I was slightly sad to be handed a book with an ending...but then, I couldn't resist it. It is haunting, ordered, intriguing, and so well written that you cannot help but be drawn into Claire's quest. A completely satisfying conclusion to the story that you will not want to miss.

Trailer Tuesday: Enclave (Aguirre)

This was one of the books on my Summer Reading list. Have you read it? If not, here's a reminder of why you should read it:

Review: As I Wake (Scott)

Title: As I Wake
Author: Scott
Genre: Fiction, Supernatural, Mother-Daughter, Identity, Memory, Dystopian
Pages: 224
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars


Seventeen year old Ava wakes up in a panic in a house she doesn’t recognize. When her hysteria lands her in the hospital diagnosed with amnesia, Ava senses that the doctors are wrong. This woman claiming to be her mother cannot really be her mother. Ava begins to have hazy flashbacks of living in a place much different, a place under total government control.

Strangely, this reality is populated with people she sees in her current everyday life. When a mysterious boy named Morgan appears claiming to know who she really is, her memories start becoming clearer. Soon Ava must decide which life she truly belongs in, and where, and with whom, she wants to spend her future.

I received this book to review and was very excited because I am a big fan of the author's "Living Dead Girl." It also has such a striking cover that teens will be drawn to immediately. (I know this to be true because both of my neighbor girls grabbed this book immediately to add to their stack...good thing I had two copies!)


Scott, fascinated with the concept of the modal reality, uses this novel to explore what that might look like. Readers will appreciate the fast pace and surprises at every turn. Part thriller, part dystopian, part romance, this book offers something for everyone and a main character that teens will respond to.

Review: Numbers: The Chaos (Ward)

Title: Num8ers: The Chaos
Author: Ward
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Future, Psychic Ability
Pages: 339
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

This is a stand-alone sequel to "Num8ers" and honestly does not require that you read them in order. However, if you have not read "Num8ers," I would highly recommend that you do so!

On the last page of "Num8ers," we learn that Jem's baby has inherited her ability to see the dates that people are going to die. It was a truly chilling way to end a book, by the way, and felt like a punch in the stomach when I was reading it. In this sequel, that baby is teenager Adam, and he has noticed that many people are going to die in January 2027, just six months away. Can he figure out why in time to stop it?


Just like his mom, Adam sees the dates that people are going to die. When he notices that large numbers of people are going to die around New Years, he sets out to figure out what is going to happen and tries to warn people of the impending doom. Adam resolves to use his "gift" to change the future and strives to do the right thing.

Adam's story is interwoven with Sarah's, a damaged girl who also has visions of the future and wants to understand what they mean. Both share an emotional connection and are haunted by their respective visions. Alternating the narration between the two characters takes readers on an emotional roller coaster. Adam and Sarah are well-drawn, multidimensional characters with distinctive voices and are characters that you care about and root for.


The action and engaging premise will intrigue readers and keep them turning the pages. The pacing is perfect, the plot is strong, and the characters are genuine. Just like in "Num8ers," the worldbuilding is done with such detail that you feel an immediate connection to the story.

Another sequel that does not disappoint! A MUST read!

Review: Empty (Weyn)

Title: Empty
Author: Weyn
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 183
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars

In a not-so-distant future, the U.S. is at war with Venezuela over dwindling oil reserves, and global warming has created a super-hurricane causing destruction up and down the East Coast. In the gloom that is the end of the world, several teens are trying their best simply to survive. Gasoline is scarce, electricity comes and goes, and there is very little food to be had in the wake of the storm.

Gwen, abandoned by her mother years ago, is trying to evade authorities looking for her brother, who was selling black-market gasoline; rich-girl Niki, whose father lost his job, has never had to face adversity in her life; and Tom, an all-around hero who lost his father to an illness, complete the love triangle. In the wake of the storm these teens, along with several other classmates, have found a secret hide-out that just might provide a way to survive the crisis.  But will they tell anyone?

I reviewed this book for Booklist, but I had actually read it before I was assigned the review.  It is not my favorite example of the genre.  Even though the characters and dialogue are sometimes routine, the realistic and thought-provoking scenario is packaged into a speedy read.  Given the popularity of dystopian fiction, it should find an audience.  In fact, our one library copy is currently checked out, and my two advance copies have been borrowed by students that heard me talk about it.  It does have it's market...and I think the short length is is selling point.

Can't wait to hear what these students have to say about the book!

Student Review: Catching Fire (Collins)

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Science Fiction (Fiction, Dystopian, Adventure)
Pages: 391
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Catching Fire tells the action-filled, sci-fi story of Katniss Everdeen, an 18 year old girl who was forced into a fight to the death called, The Hunger Games. This book takes place in the future where there is a Capital that rules over 12 surrounding Districts. This book is the sequel to The Hunger Games, a book where Katniss and a boy named Peeta are picked from District 12 to compete in the Hunger Games. In the end, Peeta and Katniss are the only ones alive, and should have to kill each other. But neither one wants to kill the other, so they both decide to eat these poisonous berries that will kill both of them. But instead they are both allowed to live, but people in the district see them disobeying the Capital. So uprisings begin in the Districts. Catching Fire tells you what happens when the Districts rebel, and how Katniss is punished for her actions.


I picked this book because I had read the Hunger Games and I thought it was an amazing book. The theme of this book is to stand up for what you believe in. Don’t let others treat you unfairly. My favorite character was a man named Cinna. Cinna is Katniss’s clothing designer for the Hunger Games. Cinna was a great friend to Katniss throughout her whole experience, and always helped her in tough situations. He had an amazing personality, and one action in particular that occurred during Catching Fire made him my favorite character (but I can’t tell you what that was without giving away the story).


I thought this book was amazing. It had great description of characters, and by the end you could predict what the characters would do in certain situations. The only thing I did not like was that the settings were very vague and not clearly described. I think almost any reader will enjoy this amazing read, but especially those who enjoy a bit of sci-fi and a lot of action.


This book has an amazing theme, which to me was stand up for what you believe in. Do you think that if you were Katniss, and these cruel and unfair people were living near your home, you would want to rebel, or would you cower to this great and powerful force? Read the book to see how Katniss reacts to the sudden twists, and shocking secrets that will forever change her life.
--Trent, 8th grade

Yeah!  I love this book, too!

Do Not Open Until...part 2

Last Thursday, 9/30/10, the mailman came to the door to deliver a package that would not fit in the mailbox.  Across the package was a LARGE sticker stating, "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 10/5/10."  When the postman handed the package to my son, who had answered the door, said mailman made sure to mention that we were not to open the package until the 5th.  And this is the warning that my son passed along to me when he handed me the package.

And then I laughed at the child.  (Okay, so maybe I'm not the nicest mom sometimes).  Seriously?  Can the postman really tell me not to open the package?  I knew what it was...a book.  And I'm sorry, but there is NO way you are keeping me from finding out which book it is.  (See the first post on this topic from a few weeks ago). 

So, what was the book?  If you noticed the book cover attached to this post, then you already know..."Behemoth" by Scott Westerfeld.  YEAH!  This is the sequel to "Leviathan" and is not officially released until the 5th, hence the need for the warning label.

By the way, I think I've traumatized my son by ripping open the package with complete disregard for the official warning from the postman.  I still think that the mailman was being funny and my son didn't pick up on the sarcasm.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Did you read "Leviathan?"  Are you excited for "Behemoth?"

Now What???

The question I currently get asked the most is, "What do I read now?"  Usually said by a student, often in a "woe-is-me" voice.  However, grown-up friends, neighbors, and teachers have also been known to ask this question, usually via Facebook, typically without the whine.

The reason for this desperation? "The Hunger Games" trilogy, concluding with the recently released "Mockingjay," has ended. After waiting so long for book three, for most people it has now come and gone...and left everyone wanting more books to read!  As a librarian, I am very excited when a series can spark interest in other books, not just the series itself.  "Yeah!" to Suzanne Collins for giving us such a story.

So, whether you LOVED "Mockingjay," are sad to see it end, or were greatly disappointed by it, never fear...there are more books for you,  I promise!  Dystopian fiction for teens is a HUGE genre (especially now), that will not let you down. 

Here are my suggestions (in no particular order) of "What to Read Next:"

(1) Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.  Okay, though I promised no order to this list, there is a reason that I mentioned it first.  I LOVE IT!  And so do many others, based on all the starred reviews it has received.  Nailer is on a scavenger crew tearing up old hulks of ships, living day to day in a not-so-distant future U.S., until a rich girl and her gleaming ship run ashore in a storm on the beach and his life gets more dangerous.  See my review here.

(2) Incarceron by Catherine Fisher.  Another new book, first in a series, that you will definitely enjoy.  Trapped in the massive prison world of Incarceron, Finn searches for his true identity; outside, Claudia searches for the truth about Incarceron and its warden, her father.  My review is posted here.  Book 2, "Sapphique," releases in December 2010.

(3) Maze Runner by James Dashner.  Again, another first in a series.  (The second book, "Scorch Trials" will actually be released 10/12/10).  This is "The Hunger Games" meets "Lost."  Click here for my earlier review.

(4) Numbers by Rachel Ward.  What if you could look into people's eyes and see the date they were going to die?  Jem can, and now she is on the run because of it.  Here is my earlier post on this book.  An excellent cover, by the way!

(5) Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld.  World War I as never seen before.  This is certainly not the history that you studied!   In an alternate 1914 Europe, fifteen-year-old Austrian Prince Alek, is on the run from the Clanker Powers who are attempting to take over the globe using mechanical machinery.  Alek forms an uneasy alliance with Deryn, who disguises herself as a boy to join the British Air Service, learning to fly genetically-engineered beasts. A sequel is on the way--"Behemoth," 10/5/10.

(6) Life as We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer.  What if it really is the end of life on Earth as we know it?  How will you survive?  This is one of the top choices each year for the 8th grade Survival Unit.  Two books follow in the series.

(7) Feed by M.T. Anderson. In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

(8) Unwind by Neal Schusterman. Set in a future U.S. in which abortions are outlawed but parents have the option of signing over their 13- to 17-year-olds to be used as organ donors, three teens embark upon a cross-country journey in order to escape.

(9) The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson. In the not-too-distant future, when biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, a seventeen-year-old girl, recovering from a serious accident and suffering from memory lapses, learns a startling secret about her existence.  Though this is a few years old, I just finished listening to the audio.  Definitely recommend this book.

(10) The Giver by Lois Lowry.  The standard by which all Dystopian novels should be judged, this classic won the Newbery Medal in 1994.   Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.  Two other books, "Messenger" and "Gathering Blue," follow.

Other books that should not be missed:
The Diary of Pelly D. by L.J. Adlington
Exodus by Julie Bertagna
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen
The White Mountains by John Christopher
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner
The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman
Gone by Michael Grant
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Enemy by Charlie Higson
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
Declaration by Gemma Malley
A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Epitaph Road by David Patneaude
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeves
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Bar Code Rebellion by Suzanne Weyn

Suggestions?  Omissions? Other recommendatons?  What do you think?  This might become my own version of a "Tuesday Top 10," though clearly I couldn't stop at just 10!

Review: Ship Breaker (Bacigalupi)

Title: Ship Breaker
Author: Bacigalupi
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Survival, Adventure, Science Fiction
Pages: 323
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5

In a not-so-distant future America, grounded oil tankers are broken down for parts in the Gulf Coast region.  Nailer, a teenage boy who works for a crew that scavenges for copper wiring, hopes to make his quota and live to see another day.  One day, he discovers a clipper ship that wrecked during a hurricane, and its lone survivor--a beautiful girl (Nita) from a powerful family.  Nailer must make an important decision: strip the ship and kill the girl for "parts" or rescue her and hope she can lead him to a better life. 

Most of you know that I am a fan of dystopian or alternate future books.  Honestly, though, this book originally got lost in my pile of Best Fiction (BFYA) nominees and I did not read it in time to put on my summer reading suggestions.  Let's just say, now I wish I had!  This is a book NOT to be missed.  The world building (setting) immediately pulls you in.  I can close my eyes and picture exactly what Nailer sees when he is climbing through grounded oil tankers looking for copper wire.  It is a bleak existance that he lives, trying to survive with a harsh boss and a drug-addicted, abusive father.

It is not hard to imagine this future America considering all that is going on right now in the Gulf with the BP oil spill.  Perhaps this believability is what draws you into this novel.  More likely, it is the AMAZING writing.  The characters are well-drawn, even the villains.  I feel like I know Nailer and Nita, that I have become part of their world and their lives.  There is so much to think about in this futuristic book, and much for discussion.  The fast-paced action and remarkable characters will keep you turning the pages of this darkly compelling book...that will stay with you long after you read it.

On a side note, this is one of the books that I loaned to the neighbor kids this week for their boating vacation.  I am eagerly awaiting their review...even their mom wanted to read it based on the book summary!  If you would like to be next in line to read it, comment here and I will send it to you when they return it.  

Review: Incarceron (Fisher)

Title: Incarceron
Author: Fisher
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Prisons, Kings & Queens, Science Fiction (sort of)
Pages: 464 pages
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

This book has two distinct settings and two great main characters.  Finn is a teenager who lives in Incarceron, a prison where prisoners and their descendents roam scary landscapes and fight for survival.  Though there are no guards, no one ever leaves.  In fact, many prisoners don't believe there is an outside.  Incarceron itself is alive, with a watchful red eye that sees everything so that no one ever escapes.  However, Finn has memories/visions of a happy life.  He is sure that he has was not born in Incarceron.

Claudia is the 17-year-old daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, though she has never seen the prison.  She lives a privileged life Outside and is to be married to the horrible Prince.  She remembers a time when she was engaged to his brother, who died when he was younger.  

Claudia and Finn each find a crystal "key" in their worlds and can soon communicate with each other.  Both are trying to figure out their own world and each other's.  And with the help of friends, Claudia hopes to help Finn escape Incarceron.

Filled with mystery, intrigue, and action, this novel does not disappoint.  This is only the beginning of the adventures in Incarceron and the world where Claudia and Finn live.  I am already awaiting the 2nd book in this series, and am anxious to find out how Ms. Pomerinke's husband liked this book.  Fans of The Hunger Games series or dystopian/alternate future adventures will love this!

Review: Restoring Harmony (Anthony)

Title: Restoring Harmony
Author: Anthony
Genre: Fiction, Survival, Dystopian
Pages: 320
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

In the not so distant future of 2041, the US has been ravaged by a catastrophic economic collapse brought about by massive oil shortages.  (Something that does not seem too far out there, unfortunately).  Sixteen-year-old Molly has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world of rampant crime and abandoned cities in order to find them.  Molly travels illegally into the US to locate her grandparents in the Portland suburb of Gresham, only to find them financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission.

My grandparents actually live in Gresham, and have for most of my life.  I grew up visiting all the locations mentioned in this book, so it was fun to visualize the trip from Victoria through Seattle to Portland that Molly took.  I am always a fan of dystopian fiction or alternate future stories involving some sort of disaster (Hunger Games, Life as we Knew It, etc.).  This book does not disappoint!  It is riveting, fast-paced survival/adventure, with just a hint of romance.  Perfect for summer reading.  And no, I was not reading this book instead of watching a baseball game...I was completely aware of what was going on the entire time!