Son - Lois Lowry

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Lowry, Lois. Son. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2012. $17.99. Hardback. (393 p.). ISBN:9780547887203.
Recommended for ages 12+.

In the society Claire lives children are assigned their lifelong careers at the age of 12. Claire is chosen to be a birthmother. This is not the most prestigious position but still important as she will be responsible for bringing three new lives into the community. These "products" are then cared for at the nursery until the gathering day when they will be given to their assigned parents. But something goes wrong as Claire delivers her first "product". Claire is reassigned but can't stop thinking about her "product". Contact with the "product" is not allowed. Claire's "product" does not behave as the others and things turn from bad to worse. The two become separated  Just how much is Claire willing to give up to be reunited with her Son?

This is the final book in The Giver quartet, yet it can certainly stand on its own. If you have read any of The Giver series, this book combines all these characters you have come to care about. If not, this book can still be appreciated and will leave you longing to read the others.


Awards/Honors
Margaret A. Edwards Award - 2007
ALA Notable Children's Book Older Readers - 2013

Other titles in The Giver Quartet:

Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

An interview with author Lois Lowry 

Shards & Ashes - edited by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong

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Marr, Melissa and Kelly Armstrong. Shards and Ashes. New York: HarperCollins, 2013. $9.49. eBook. (385p) ISBN:9780349001367.
Also available in Hardback ($17.99) and Paperback ($9.99)
Recommended for ages 14+.

Shards & Ashes contains nine short dystopian stories from some of today's most popular Young Adult authors. Veronica Roth (Divergent), Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures), Beth Revis (Across the Universe), Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely) and others present short stories of 30-40 pages in which a world of destruction is portrayed. Each story is creative and thought-provoking.  The characters are discovering their own strengths and struggling against the zealous rules and regulations enforced upon them. Danger awaits around every corner and survival is uncertain. Some of the stories contain love, some contain heartache. All contain unexpected twists sure to keep the pages turning.

Awards/Honors
None yet as this book was just released Feb. 19, 2013.

Enclave - Ann Aguirre

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Aguirre, Ann. Enclave. NewYork: Square Fish, 2011. $9.99. Paperback. (261p) ISBN:9780312551377.

Recommended for ages 14+.

Deuce has just become a huntress. A position she has coveted since childhood. She is now easily identifiable by the six scars on her arms. She lives within a cave deep underground known as the enclave. She demonstrates her braveness as she scouts the tunnels outside the enclave. She displays her skills as she slaughters the hideous monsters referred to as freaks. Yet it doesn't take her long to realize that she doesn't possess one of the most important traits of a huntress...she is not heartless. She has always believed that all the rules and regulations set forth by the elders were for her own good. Yet Deuce and her partner, Fade, have uncovered some information that is vital to the survival of the enclave and elders refuse to acknowledge the danger. And odd things are happening within the enclave. Things that are making her question the motivations of the elders. She has a choice to make. If she just stands by the people of the enclave may all perish. But standing up for what she believes in may result in her being exiled from the Enclave.

Awards/Honors
RITA Winner for Young Adult Romance - 2012
YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers - 2012
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults - 2012

The next book in this trilogy:

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The final book releases soon:

Watersmeet- Ellen Jensen Abbott

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Abbott, Ellen Jensen. Watersmeet. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish, 2009.  $8.99 Paperback (341p) ISBN:978076145997. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Her only hope of survival lies in Watersmeet but getting there will mean overcoming her own deeply engraved prejudices and trusting those whom she once despised.

With her dark hair and green eyes, Abisina has been an outcast since birth. Never allowed to talk or merely make eye contact with the blonde, blue-eyed, fair skinned villagers. Only her mother's (Sina) status as the village's sole healer has kept Abisina alive for this long, living in Vranille behind tall walls to keep out the beasts - the dwarfs, the centaurs. When the annual Ritual takes place this year not even Sina's status can keep her daughter safe within the village. With her mother's prized necklace Abisina sets off to find her father at Watersmeet. Getting there will require trusting those she previously had intolerance for. Getting there will mean confronting her deepest fears. Getting there will require Abisina to look deep into herself and discover her own power. In this dark world full of hatred and violence there lies a land full of love and acceptance. Will Abisina find it in time?


Awards/Honors
IRA Young Adult Award Notable Book
YALSA Teens' Top Ten Nominee
Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award - 2011

This is a trilogy. The next title is The Centaur's Daughter.

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The last book is currently being called The Keeper and will be released fall 2013. 

Visit the author's blog for up-to-date information on this series.

The Frenzy - Francesca Lia Block

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“At some point in everyone’s life they ask the question, “Who am I?”

Four years ago when I turned thirteen I asked the question, “What am I?”

I had changed.

But I didn’t know how or why, or what I had become.” (p.1)

Block, Francesca Lia. The Frenzy. New York: HarperTeen, 2010.  $16.99 Hardback (258p) ISBN:9780061926662.

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Liv is living in a small town where different is not accepted. It’s bad enough that she has to hide her interracial relationship with her boyfriend, Corey, and a secret for her best friend, Pace. Now she also must hide who she truly is. But who is she? Or maybe the question is what is she? This is the question she has been asking herself the last four years since the frenzy took hold. The frenzy occurs anytime Liv begins to lose her temper. In these times a great anger overtakes her and she becomes someone she cannot recognize. As Liv tries to keep her emotions under control, her father, the chief of police, is trying to solve a string of murders that have taken place behind her home. Are these events connected? As Liv draws closer to the truth, a mysterious woman is watching her from afar. What does this woman know? As Liv begins to unravel her true identity, both Pace and Corey seem to grow more distant. Can her relationship with Corey and her friendship with Pace survive The Frenzy? 


Awards/Honors
Margaret A. Edwards Award Winner - 2005

Hear Francesca Lia Block read the first chapter of this book.

Silver Kiss - Annette Curtis Klause

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A figure detached from the shadows. Her mouth dried. Mother of two found dead, she thought. It moved toward her. Stepped into the moonlight on the side closest to her, and briefly she thought to run. Then she saw his face. (p.12)


Klause, Annette Curtis. The Silver Kiss. New York: Delacorte Press, 1990. $8.99 Paperback (198p) ISBN:9780385734226.
Recommended for ages 12+.

Dangerous vampires, forbidden love, and an unraveling mystery all allow for The Silver Kiss to be read at a breath-taking pace. Just be sure to leave all the lights on.

Zoe has never felt so isolated and unsure in her life. Her mother is dying. Her best friend is moving. Her dad is always either at the hospital with her mother or working. Women of the town are turning up dead with throats slashed, drained of blood. This is not a good time to be out alone after dark but that is exactly where Zoe finds herself. That is until she meets Simon. Who is this mysterious, gorgeous guy? And why is he so infatuated with Zoe? This pale, dark eyed boy with silver hair hides an ancient, deadly secret. Zoe senses that she should stay away from him but her heart won’t allow it. Besides, Simon desperately needs Zoe’s help. It’s just that helping him might also cost Zoe her life.

Awards/Honors
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults - 1991
Sequoyah Young Adult Award Winner - 1993
Young Hoosier Young Adult Book Award Nominee - 1993-1994
YALSA Popular Paperbacks for YA Changing Dimensions - 1999
YALSA Popular Paperbacks for YA Death and Dying - 2009

Divergent - Veronica Roth

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Roth, Veronica. Divergent. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.  $17.99 Hardback (487p) ISBN:9780062024022

The most important day in sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior’s live has arrived. She will decide which fraction she will spend the rest of her life in. She can pick from the selfless Abnegations, the peaceful Amities, the honest Candors, the brave Dauntless, or the intelligent Erudite. In a world where fraction always comes before family this is the toughest decision Beatrice Prior will ever make. Remaining with her Abnegation family goes against her very nature but acceptance is not guaranteed in any of the other fractions. A wrong choice could leave her fractionless, the very worst fate of all. To complicate matters more, Beatrice has a big secret. A secret that if revealed could cost her life. And as Beatrice soon discovers, a secret that might just save the lives of all those she loves.

Awards/Honors
Goodreads Favorite Book of 2011
Goodreads Best YA Fantasy & Science Fiction - 2011
Named one of NPR's Top 5 YA Novel - 2011
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults - 2012
NPR Young Adult Fiction Finalist - 2012


Veronica Roth talks about her book, Divergent, and the characters:

Next book in the trilogy:

Cover art from indiebound.org

Final book (still untitled) releasing Fall 2013:

"Cover" art from librarything.com

Movie tie-in:
Divergent is also being made into a movie, set to release in March 2014. Catch up on what's being said about this as well as see photos and more at Tumblr. 

To countdown the movie The Faction Four has 365 entertaining challenges, one for each day until the movie is released beginning on March 21, 2012. 

Website:
Serious Divergent fans will enjoy all the updates and extra on the Divergent Fans site. There is lots of behind-the-scenes info here as well.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

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Clare, Cassandra. Clockwork Angel. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. $19.99 Hardback (479p) ISBN: 9781416975861.

Recommended for ages 14+.

After the death of her aunt Tessa flees New York to live in London with her brother, the only family she has left. Immediately upon arrival in England Tessa is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters who force her to discover her talents as a shape changer. With the aid of the Shadowhunters, whose mission is to protect the world from demons and the like, she escapes the confines of the Dark Sisters only to realize that a world full of supernatural creatures is now her reality. Tessa remains a sought woman and violence erupts as those with evil intentions pursue her. Twist after twist leaves the reader guessing to the very end, at which point the book concludes nicely while still leaving a perfect opening for the squeal.

This title deals with the relevant young adult issues of identity seeking, romance, and family. With the descriptions of early 19^th century England and the issues with women’s rights at the time, it does fit in the genre of historical fiction, yet the theme is primarily fantasy as it is centered around supernatural characters such as witches, vampires, and demons. This series was written as a prequel to the popular Mortal Instruments series, making it a must-have for libraries. Though the first title in the Mortal Instruments series, City of Bones, was published in 2007 it is not necessary to read it before Clockwork Angel.   This book, along with the rest of the series, will appeal to those ages 14 and up.

Awards/Honors
YALSA Teen's Top Ten Winner - 2011
Silver Inky Winner- 2011
Indigo Top Ten for Ten Fiction - 2010
Indie Kids Next List for Teen Readers - Winter 2010/2011

The next book in The Infernal Devices series:

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Book three, Clockwork Princess, newly released.

Cover art from indiebound.org

Here's a great book trailer for Clockwork Angel. 

This series is the prequel to The Mortal Instruments series:

Cover art from indiebound.org

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