Delirium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This was tedious. It went on and on, repeating itself (that is how it seemed to me). It could be likened to a soap opera, where you watch a few episodes then miss a few weeks only to find that the action hasn't really progressed during your absence. I also don't seem to enjoy romantic novels - too slow moving.

So here is the School Library Journal review:

In this gripping dystopian novel set in a future Portland, ME, everyone is safe, unhappiness can be cured, and the freedoms we take for granted have been relinquished in the name of "security" and "the common good." There is no risk and no pain, or at least there won't be for 17-year-old Lena Haloway and her outspoken friend, Hana, once they turn 18. They will then be eligible, in fact forced, to undergo the procedure that will render them impervious to delirium—the disease that was formerly known as love. You can see, of course, right where this is headed, but the ride is well worthwhile. Lena is an engaging and believable protagonist, at first compliant, then questioning, and finally desperate to save herself and the irrepressible emotions blooming within her. Her journey to understanding is both painful and exhilarating as she meets free-spirited Alex, succumbs to delirium, and wrestles with the social code she's been taught so well. Ultimately, Lena gets a shocking glimpse into the world outside the city's borders and witnesses the barbaric underpinnings of the "safe" world in which she has lived. Especially heartbreaking is her discovery of the fate of her mother, who was unable to stop loving her husband and daughters and paid a terrible price for her transgression. On the other hand, Lena's caring but numbed-out aunt and her scrupulously compliant older sister make clear the consequences of obedience to tyranny. Strong characters, a vivid portrait of the lives of teens in a repressive society, and nagging questions that can be applied to our world today make this book especially compelling and discussable



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When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved this novel. It may be predictable but touches on many teen issues, especially the ever present need to fit in and appreciate ones self.

Adopted by loving, white parents and taunted by classmates as the only African American girl in her elite, private school, Lahni Schuler, 14, is conflicted about her identity and deeply hurt by her parents’ separation.

When her mother takes her to an interdenominational church, Lahni is captivated by the soulful gospel singing. She joins the choir and receives inspiration from the flamboyant, talented director and organist. With a school singing competition coming up you will find the tension mounting. Also there is a boy stalking Lahni, so how will this aspect of the plot evolve? This story never gets heavy-handed ; the characters are well developed, believable and the narrative is real. You will find yourself rooting for the underdog and hoping the smug characters get their due too.





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Rikers High by Paul Volponi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really good look at life in jail for a teen, if you ever thought of doing something unlawful, this will cure you. Martin Stokes has landed in jail for steering, telling an undercover cop where to buy drugs. He is due to be released but due to various judicial mishaps he's being held at Riker's Island for a few weeks that turned into months while he waits for his trial to come up. He's learned how to navigate the system and avoid becoming the target of bullies, but an accidental knife slash to his face and a transfer to a new ward lands him in the jail school, and he is the new kid again. Volponi spent several years as a teacher at Rikers and everything that happens in this book he saw or heard about. There are some really good teachers who help and defend the juveniles against bad corrections officers, but also some worthless and dangerous teachers as well. This is a very realistic novel and a great look at the corrections system from one teenager's point of view.



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Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ansel and his sisters enter the forest; Ansel and only one sister return. And so begins this novel which is loosely based on the fairytale Hansel and Gretel.
Twelve years later Ansel and his sister Gretchen find themselves in a small town, Live Oak, where there is a history of girls disappearing. Is there a connection between these events? Will further disappearances occur and can they be stopped?
This story has romance, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural and will interest many readers.



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Fire Will Fall by Carol Plum-Ucci

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I didn't know until lately that this is the sequel to Streams of Babel. This novel stands by itself, but for greater interest you probably should read the first.
The story is told in alternating chapters which is a downer for me. I lose track of what's happening or if I don't like a character I resent reading about them too much; if I like a character I want to skip over to they parts where he/she is featured. Anyway, this is not my kind of format.
The story: Trinity Falls' water supply was infected with a virus when bioterrorists attacked. The four teens who were the most affected by the virus are moved to a big mansion so that their health can be monitored. Symptoms and emotional issues form the backbone of the narrative. Two other teens are introduced. These two are searching for clues to the bio-terrorists, and what these crazies are up to next.
Will the teens recover from the virus and its effects? Will the terrorist succeed in launching another attack? Read the book to find out.



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Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Samuel knew the forest, he loved it; he was at home in it. His skill at hunting meant that he was responsible for providing meat for nearly the whole Pennsylvania frontier settlement where he and his parents lived. That day he was hunting, deep in the forest, when it happened.

Smoke across the tops of the trees.

It couldn't be a forest fire. It hadn't been dry enough. Could it be coming from the settlement? No, he rejected the idea. For that would mean only one thing, an attack. Samuel turned and started running. He caught the smell of blood before he could see the settlement.

There had been an attack on his settlement, an attack on his home, and he hadn't been there to help. All the cabins had been burnt to the ground. Most of the settlers were dead, killed by tomahawks and arrows, and many had been scalped. It was clear from their tracks that the Indians had been lead by men on horses – soldiers, Red Coats.

But Samuel didn’t find his parents' bodies. For some reason, they had been taken captive.

Samuel swore he would get them back, but how much can a 13-year-old do?





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Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


How would you feel if you had a chimpanzee as a little brother?
Ben Tomlin's father moved the family to British Columbia for that very reason. Nobody had asked Ben, his Dad had accepted the new job before he told Ben anything about the move.
It was 1973. Richard Tomlin was a behavioral scientist interested in whether humans were the only animals capable of learning language. He wanted to find out if chimpanzees could learn American Sign Language. So he accepted a position at a university half way across Canada.
Ben spent his thirteenth birthday unpacking boxes at his new house. Now he was in a new town, Victoria, living in a new house and going to a private school.
For the experiment a particular chimp had to be found. It had to be a baby, because the whole experiment relied on raising it just like a human.
They named their chimp, Zan.
At first Ben thought that having a chimpanzee as a member of the family was the weirdest thing in the world and he resented him because of the move and because it made him look weird at school. But as he begins to work with Zan, spending time with him and teaching the chimp his first sign, Ben's feelings about his feisty new half brother begins to change.
What does Zan learn?
What do Ben and his family learn?
Can this experiment succeed?




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