A Joint Project of
Genrefluent and the Center for Adolescent Reading

Hopkins, Ellen Crank

I think this book is a great book for teens with drug problems. It has an emotional grab to it. You won’t want to put it down. I didn’t want to stop reading it. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal.-- Taylor 17

Avi The Seer of Shadows HarperCollins 2008 - March

I grabbed this book because it was written by Avi. It proved to be interesting at the least. A boy named Horace (in the late 1800's in NYC)is apprenticed to a photographer who decides to take advantage of a situation, a women who has recently lost her daughter and wants her photo taken to make her daughter happy. The womens servent revels to Horace that the women has lied. Horace becomes involved when he takes a picture of the dead daughters ghost. The story was fast paced and not nearly as creepy as the cover made it sound. Nominate? No. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Kara D., 14

Brewer, Heather The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Ninth Grade Slays Penguin: Dutton 2008 - April

This book was amazingly good. It had everything i like drama, action, and mystery.It is the second book in the Vladimir Tod series but you don't have to read the first one. The book is about a ninth grade vampire named Vlad and it was way better than most of the other vampire books i read. Nominate? Yes. 5Q Hard to imagine a better book. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Brady, 12

Bunce, Elizabeth C. A Curse Dark as Gold Scholastic: Arthur A. Levine Books 2008

A new addition to the retold fairy tales genre, A Curse as Dark as Gold explores the world of Rumpelstiltskin. It's set in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in England, in the town of Shearing. Shearing revolves around the sheep it raises and the wool they produce, and the wool mill is at the heart of the business. Shearing belongs to another time where fairies are still prevented by painting your door blue, and little corn figures are common decor. The local legend says that the wool mill can only be run by Millers or else business will bust, and Charlotte and her sister are the last of the MIller line. Their father is dead, leaving them with great responsibilities and enormous debts, so when Charlotte is offered an exchange of gold for her mothers ring, how can she refuse? This was a bit different than what I expected because of the time and some alterations in the plot. But I think it was better for it. After all, it never made much sense to me how the girl could fall in love with a guy threatening to kill her if she didn't spin him gold. But there is romance in this book, just more... realistic. I actually enjoyed how it was set in the Industrial Revolution because it showed that even though technology seems to have sucked a lot of the magic out of the world, its just hidden better. Nominate? No. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Andrea F., 15

Collins, Suzanne The Hunger Games Scholastic 2008 - October

I was a little disappointed in the hunger games i mean it's not that it wasn't good in fact it was very good in the beginning and the end. But it wasn't as good as i thought it was going to be and there were some parts just weird.Any way it's basically about a girl who sister's is picked for the Hunger games which are games where the children fight to the death and she volunteers to go in her sisters place. The rest of the books is just her surviving the Hunger games. Nominate? No. 3Q Readable. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Brady, 12

Docherty, Jimmy The Ice Cream Con Scholastic: Chicken House 2008 - June

The book begins when 12 year old Jack Drake is robbed again. This time he decides to go to the local mob leader to find out who stole the money. When he reaches the mobsters house he finds out the mobster's men were the ones who stole his money he decides to get even by starting his own mob of 12 year old kids. This book kept me entertained till they end and made me laugh along the way. Nominate? Yes. 5Q Hard to imagine a better book. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Brady 12

George, Jessica Day Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow Bloomsbury 2008

amazingly good with a touch of other stories that help the fairy tale come a live. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Alejandra, 16
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Based off the fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Jessica Day George is back with a new story. A girl without a name is taken by a enchanted polar bear back to live in his ice palace with him for a year and a day. As with all enchantments, nobody can tell her about it, not the ibsjorn nor his servants. And there seems to be a mysterious person behind the scenes using them all like pawns. And just when the enchantment is close to being broken, a blunder happens and now the girl with no name must journey on the backs of the four winds to save the polar bear. This beautiful old tale is written wonderfully well by one of my new favorite authors, and I liked how she incorporated creatures from other myths such as fauns and gargoyles. It was a tad predictable, but in a good way. 9 stars out of 10. I would like the book club's copy of this. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Andrea 15

Giles, Gail Right Behind You Little, Brown & Co 2007 - September

I really liked this book because it was suspenseful. I think this could happen in real life. I definitely thik it should get nomanatied because all teenagers well love to read this book. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 5P Everyone wants to read it. --Brittany, 13

Horowitz, Anthony Point Blank: The Graphic Novel Penguin: Philomel 2007 - December

I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the book series or who loves spy thrills. This book is great for both kids and adults for anyone who either likes graphic novels or has a hard time reading regular novels. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Melissa C., 18

Hulme, John and Michael Wexler The Seems: The Glitch In Sleep Bloomsbury 2007 - September

The story starts with an excellent lead, showing what the Fixers do in the fantasy land, the Seems. The main character is a recently promoted Fixer that gets assigned an extremely difficult mission. The book is written fairly playfully but that only adds to the comedy here. The character development was excellent and the plot line was simple and elegant. I would recommend this book to any who like to read. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Tyler, 15

Lerangis, Peter Drama Club The Big Production Speak 2007 - September

Okay, so I didn't read the first book in this series, so I was a little lost through the whole thing. But, I still didn't think this book had much of a plot, even if I was a bit confussed. 'The Big Production' is mainly about a girl named Brianna who is involved in the drama program at her school, which is absolutally huge. It's like sports at most big high schools. Brianna is an overachiever and stresses over everything, which gets her into trouble in the story quite often. The plot was lacking, and it was not complicated at all. Being a huge fan of drama and plays, I've been waiting for EVER for a good book about the production of a play, but I've been sorely disapointed. I read this book after NWEA testing sessions, and it was refreshing after my mind being drained. So, I'm only recommending this to those who want an easy read to just relax and recooperate after something long and unpleasant. If not though, don't bother reading it. Nominate? No. 2Q Needs more work. 3P Some Teen appeal. --Elle, 14
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This is the second book of the series and it was not as good as the first one. There was not as much thrill or excitment that went on in the first one. It would talk about the same old thing that happened in the first one. In this one it was more focused on the copersident Briana and not on the stage manager. It was good but I dont think it was worth reading after the first one. Nominate? No. 2Q Needs more work. 2P Only for special interest. --Allison C., 14

Lerangis, Peter Drama Club The Fall Musical Speak 2007 - September

This is the first book of the series. I loved this book and I hope that everyone that reads this will like it to. At Ridgeport High the drama club is the one club that everyone wants to be in. They decide that they want to have a fall musical. Their biggest production of the year is the spring play. The girl that is the main charecter in here thinks that they drama club is someway of getting away from her old life and what happened in her old town. Everyone thinks she would make the perfect stage manager. It is a hard job for her to take on and she does not know if she can handel all of this and the plain out hottness of the lead man. Will she be able to keep her secret and not get to involved in everything? Read this book and find out what happens to her. Nominate? No. 3Q Readable. 3P Some Teen appeal. --Allison C., 14

Moloney, James Trapped Stone Arch Books 2007 - July

This book gives me the chills its a good book please bring hunted play ground to family tree my favorit part was the thrill of trying to get out it made me feel like i was a part of the action. Nominate? Yes. 5Q Hard to imagine a better book. 3P Some Teen appeal. Nate R., 14

Ny, Jeanine Le Once Upon A Prom: Dream Scholastic 2008 - February

This book was one of the best that I have read so far. It was about three good friends getting ready for thier senior prom.Each of them have troubles that they have to face. Head cheerleader, Jordan, has to know that she will win prom queen but she is not so sure that that is what she wants to be. Tara, the leader of the prom commitee is trying to make this a night that no one will forget at all. She feels that this will be the best and the only one like. Her problem is that she cant find a date. Her secret admiarer wont stop texting her so she is not so sure if she should do this. Nisha has the best American boyfriend, but her family is from India. Her parents dont know what prom is at all. She tries to get around the fact that she is with an American boy and really wants to go. But when her parents say yes they find her an Indian boy to go with. I loved this book and I would suggest it to any girl who loves to read chick flick books and love stories. Nominate? Yes. 3Q Readable. 3P Some Teen appeal. --Allison C. 14

Price, Charlie Lizard People Roaring Brook 2007 - August

Lizard people is about a 17 year old boy who's mom has a mental illness. After his mom has an outbreak in the school office Ben is waiting in the hospital lobby where he meets Marco who also has mental mother. Be begins to drop by Marco's house where Marco tells Ben a story about the year 4000 and the lizard people. Soon Marco's story begins to reflect parts of Ben's life. Then the weird stuff starts happening. Is Marco's story true, is Marco insane, or is Ben just going crazy like his mother. Nominate? No. 3Q Readable. 3P Some Teen appeal. --Brady. 12

Valentine, Jenny Me, the Missing, and the Dead HarperTeen 2008 - April

This book was really good. It is a book about a boy named lucas who who's dad has been missing for five years. When he discovers the ashes of a old lady named violet in a cab stop. He fakes being related to her and takes the ashes of violet home begins to feel violet is trying to tell him something about the whereabouts of his missing father. This book was extremely good and had a dynamite ending. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 3P Some Teen appeal. --Brady, 12

Bertagna, Julie Exodus Walker & Company 2008

The book takes place about 200 years in the future. The world is drowning because of global warming. All the major continents have been flooded. The main character Mara is living on one of the last surviving islands that is slowly drowning. When Mara learns of sky cities that might still exist she and the rest of the village set sail to find one of the cities. The book was really good. The only two problems with book where that the middle was kinda boring and it went a little fast in some parts. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 3P Some Teen appeal. Brady, 12

Dowd, Siobhan The London Eye Mystery Random: David Fickling 2008

When Ted and Kat's cousin Salim disappears from the London Eye ferris wheel, the two siblings must work together--Ted with his brain that is "wired differently" and impatient Kat--to try to solve the mystery of what happened to Salim. Nominate? No. 1Q How did it get published? 2P Only for special interest. --Rachel G., 12

Dunkle, Clare B.  The Sky Inside Simon & Schuster: Atheneum 2008

Martin lives in a futuristic society that is "perfect." All children are genetically engineered, and the whole community votes on every single issue that effects them. However, when people come to take the Wonderbabies away, Martin begins to doubt his perfect life. Wonderbabies are engineered to be amazingly intelligent, and Martin's younger sister, Cassie, is a Wonderbaby. Martin has to make the choice to either stay in his suburb, which is a giant steel dome, or go out into the real world to find Cassie. I thought that this book was well written and had an intersting story. I would definitely recommend it. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. -Claire, 14

DuPrau, Jeanne The Diamond of Darkhold Random House 2008

The last book in the City of Ember series, The Diamond of Darkhold does not disappoint. Lina and Doone have been living in Sparks for several months now, and the winter is much harder than usual what with the extra people living there and the spoiling of the back up food supplies. Lina and Doone decide to make a trip to Ember, to see if there's anything left worth salvaging. But the creators of Ember have another surprise in store for the Emberites, and Lina and Doone must once again try to understand a much worn and mostly destroyed book to discover the secret. Nominate? Yes. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. --Andrea, 15

Landy, Derek Playing with Fire HarperCollins 2008

Skulduggery and Stephanie a.k.a. Valkyrie are back. And guess what? They need to save the world again. Here's an extract on the new villain from the book. (Valkyrie) "How about on the Evil Villain Scale? Ten being Serpine, (Villain from last book) one being Scapegrace." (Very lame wanna-be villain) (Skulduggery) "The Baron, unfortunately, turns it all the way up to eleven." "Seriously? Because, you know, that's one more evil." "It is indeed." "So we're in trouble, then." "Oh yes." Skulduggery said darkly. The Baron has escaped from his long captivity and is now out for revenge and a quick resurrection of a Faceless One. Will Skulduggery and Valkyrie be able to save the world again along with surviving a family reunion? Read and find out. 8 out of 10. Nominate? No. 4Q Better than most. 4P Broad general teen appeal. Andrea 15

Madden, Kerry Jessie's Mountain Viking 2008

'Jessie's Mountain' is the third book in the Maggie Valley series by Kerry Madden. I have not read the first two, but it's possable to read them without reading the others first. This book is about a 12 year old girl living in 1964 named Livy Two. (Opposed to Livy One, who died as an infant. Am I the only one who finds that creepy?) Music has been passed down in Livy Two's family from generation to generation, and living in a home where this is the case is crazy- especially when you have 10 siblings, a father who's recovering from a car accident, a cranky grandmother, and a mother just trying to hold the family together. The adventure begins when Grandma Horace and Livy's mother plan to move the family to Enka, away from their cozy Maggie Valley home. At hearing this, Livy Two plans to run away to Nashville to audition for a music man, George Flowers, in order to obtain some money to pay off the debt on the house so they can stay in Maggie Valley. She runs off, but, to her dismay, is followed by her little sister Jitters who she's forced to take along. This book wasn't on my top ten for this year, but it still was interesting. I would recommend it for younger readers, maybe fourth through sixth graders. It had a decent plot, but not very complicated and it didn't have any surprising twists or turns which made it, sadly, boring. This may just be because it was aimed at younger readers. Who knows? Maybe a 10 year old will pick it up and love it to death. Nominate? No. 3Q Readable. 3P Some Teen appeal. --Elle, 14

Radford, Michelle Almost Fabulous HarperCollins 2008

Almost Fabulous is about a girl named Fiona who lives in London. Her problems start when she starts looking for her dad who seems to be a millionaire and lives in london. Its been 15 years since her mom and her dad have seen each other. Her problem is when she realizes she has ESP and is able to change peoples mind especially her worst enemy Mean Melissa. I think its fun and exciting and i propbably would recommend it. 4Q Better than most. 3P Some Teen appeal. --Rachel G., 12

Reisz, Kristopher Unleashed Simon Pulse 2008 - February

This book is about a boy who got accepted into Cornell college and then leans he can become a wolf at night with some new friends. The book had a good plot line but it took way to long to go over the plot line. It got boring watching the main character cheat and lie to get any ware. The ending was excellent but the book just took to long to get there. Nominate? No. 3Q Readable. 3P Some Teen appeal. Tyler 15