Books of the Week

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Science Fiction/ Aliens
Tepper, Sheri S.
The Companions
Eos 00605382x

Jewel Delis, brutalized by her older half-brother finds solace in an animal refuge. In this future Earth, rampant overpopulation has filled the world with incredibly high towers to shelter the masses leaving no room for animals. Only the very wealthy who own exempt estates may shelter animals. As always Tepper has written a complex and entertaining cautionary tale featuring myriad alien races and unique worlds. The stars of the book, are however, the dogs who Jewel manages to take to the planet Moss with her where they help unravel a mystery discovered by her late mother on the planet Mars.

Science Fiction/ Earth’s Children / AI
Simmons, Dan
Ilium
Eos: 0380978938

Dan Simmons once again weaves a complex and challenging story that takes work to get into but has a big payoff for those who stick with it. Hockenbery, a scholic, reconstituted from ancient DNA is a 20th century scholar transported to the plains of Ilium to follow the progress of the Trojan war and relate to the gods how things follow or diverge from Homer's epic. A couple of Morevacs, cyborgs from the outer reaches of the solar system set out on a quest to Mars but are struck down by gods in chariots flying through space. Meanwhile a band of old style humans of which there are only one million on Earth each of whom lives for 100 years party and play until they find "the Wondering Jew" and set out on a quest of their own that takes them to the alleged home of the post-humans where they believe they go when they die. Sure to be nominated for major awards. Great adventure by the end.

Science Fiction/ Apocalyptic/ Post Apocalyptic YA/ Science Fiction/ Post Apocalypse
Reeve, Philip
Mortal Engines: A Novel
Eos 0060082070 trade 0060082089 library

Traction cities rove the hunting grounds seeking towns, villages, communities, and even other cities to devour in their quest for resources. London, after long sulking in what was once the island of Britain has headed for the former continent of Europe its engineers planning a daring venture. Third Class Apprentice Tom Natsworthy plays hooky from his Historian duties to check out the "digestion" of fresh capture, the first in ages when he meets Valentine, his guild's chief and Valentines lovely daughter Katherine. Tom saves Valentine from an assassin and gives chase only to be flung down a waste shoot by the Head Historian. Tom and the failed assassin Hester Shaw set out to follow the tracks of London and enter into many adventures including uncovering a device that was used in the Six hour war that brought civilization as we know it down. Air ships, stalkers that are part human part machine, and espionage all contribute to making this one of the most fascinating science fiction novels of the year. The youthful protagonists give this great appeal for teens but adults will be captivated as well by Reeve's incredibly well imagined postapocalyptic world.

Science Fiction/ Adventure YA/ Science Fiction/ Aliens
Zahn, Timothy
Dragon and Thief
Tor 0765301245

An accidental symbiotic relationship between a dragon-like alien who takes the form of a tattoo on its host's body and a boy on the run from both the law and a major corporation may mean a new life for one and survival of the other's species. It features adventure, intrigue, aliens, AI, and everything that one could want in an exciting fast-paced science fiction tale that is hopefully only the first of many to feature Jack Morgan and Draycos.

YA/ Paranormal/ Ghosts
Wallace, Rich
Restless
Viking 0670036056

17-year-old Herbie Herbert has a bizarre encounter with a ghost while running through a cemetery as he works out to take his place on Sturbridge's football and cross- country teams. In dreams he sees his brother Frank who died 10 years previously. Eammon, who lived in the late 19th century and died in a fall just after impregnating a local storekeeper, is the ghost energy who has touched Herbie which gave Herbie the ability to see auras. A jerk on the football team figures that the ghost angle may help them get the girls so he arranges a blind date between Herbie and Diane who also runs cross country. In the cemetery Diane falls into a ghost mother and can now see auras. Meanwhile Herbie corresponds on a physics chat room and finally discovers the link between Eammon, Frank, himself and moving on after death including reincarnation. Kind of felt like a big build up to give a forum for Wallace's ideas on death, heaven, reincarnation etc. but was an enjoyable read with an insecure teen and spooky but not scary ghost involvement.

YA/ Issues / Physical Illness YA/ Contemporary/ Coming of Age
Hautman, Pete
Sweet-Blood
Simon & Schuster 0689850484

Sixteen-year-old Lucy finds meaning, friendship, and possible danger in her Goth lifestyle as she tries to deal with her out-of-control diabetes. Lucy's essay linking diabetes to vampirism is thought provoking and her voice rings true throughout. Her encounter and escape from creepy guys is a great sub-plot and her internet vampire chats lend authenticity to her story. Hautman is an amazing writer who always satisfies but also always surprises.

YA/ Issues/ Mental Illness & Psychological Challenges YA/ Issues/ Crime and Criminals
Trueman, Terry
Inside Out
HarperTempest 0066239621

Zach Wahhsted is waiting for his mom in a coffee shop when two teen gunmen try to rob the place. In a comedy of errors the two, calling themselves Stormy and Frosty end up taking everyone present hostage in a standoff with the police and SWAT. Zach, who suffers from adolescent onset schizophrenia never knows what is real and what isn't so he continues asking Stormy and Frosty questions. His earnest attempts to do the right thing and display the correct behaviors has an effect of the outcome. Trueman has created in Zach a character who steps off the page and gives a face and humanity to those with this mental illness. He also nails the characters of the two young hold-up men and how they got into their desperate situation. A stellar book by one of the most talented authors for young adults.

YA/ Issues/ Mental Illness & Psychological Challenges
Harrar, George
Not as Crazy as I Seem
Houghton Mifflin Co. 0618263659

Fifteen-year-old Devon has started attending The Baker Academy in the middle of the year. His "tendencies" have more than once compelled his divorce lawyer mother and mortician father to uproot and move looking for a place that he will be able to fit in and overcome his compulsive behavior. Strangely enough, at The Baker Academy he does acquire a couple of friends. African-American Tanya joins him two days a week for lunch on some hidden steps as he eats his four sandwich quarters, four wafers, four carrots, and four M&Ms and she her vanilla ice cream cone. In art class, school outcast Ben invites him home. But still, Devon refuses to sit down in his counseling sessions, fearful of germs on a chair that has been sat on by many other people. Devon's life takes on a new twist when he is suspended from school after someone else spray paints "Nazi" all over the school and he is blamed. This interesting look at a teen with OCD will fascinate readers.

YA/ Science Fiction/ Genetic engineering / Aliens
Goodman, Alison
Singing the Dogstar Blues
Viking 0670036102

In this knock your socks off fast moving tale, 17-year-old Joss is beginning her studies at the Center for Neo-Historical Studies where she will be teamed up with a partner to eventually travel in time. Even though her mother is a wealthy media celebrity she doesn't know who her father or fathers were since she was artificially conceived. When she is teamed up with MavKel, the first Chorian alien to attend the Center, she discovers much about herself as she grows to know her dualized partner who (among other things) can sing harmony with himself because of his two mouths. Terrific adventure, fascinating aliens, and a time travelling mystery make this a sure to please read. It is probably the best SF novel for teens this year.

YA/ Fantasy/ Alternate Worlds / Parallel Worlds
Jones, Diana Wynne
The Merlin Conspiracy
Greenwillow 0060523182 trade 0-06-052319-0 library

Arianrhod Hyde, known most commonly as Roddy, and her best friend Grundo, as the children of court magicians, have spent their lives on the King's progress. The islands of Blest maintain their magic and safety because the king constantly travels from town to town accompanied by his court and the Merlin. Nick, from our world has always wanted to travel between worlds and has suddenly and inexplicably ended up in another world mistaken for a novice magician. In Blest, Roddy and Grundo uncover a conspiracy but are not taken seriously until they go to stay with Roddy's grandfather in Wales who turns out to be one of the Great Powers. When he sends them to a ghost town on one of their rambles Roddy experiences a time warp where she meets the wise woman who had lived in the village and been crippled to keep her from leaving so had cast a spell that would bring a suitable person to pass her magic onto back into her time. This leaves Roddy with a computer like package of memories that give her a knowledge of plant related magic that would take a lifetime to accrue. When they try to return to their families and the Progess they discover that it has moved on and they do not know to where. Meanwhile Nick is facing adventures and dangers in other worlds and discovers that he has a spirit animal on another plane. As Nick tries to make his way through a labyrinth between worlds that will take him to a powerful magician who can help him find his way home he finds Roddy who has cast a spell requesting help. He promises to help her and eventually all three teens come together. The complex world building of not just one but several worlds, the intricacies of magic, and the resourceful teens make this a best book for intelligent teen readers who like convoluted plots and situations.