Shards & Ashes - edited by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong

Cover art from indiebound.org

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

Cover art from indiebound.org

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:

Cover art from indiebound.org

The final book releases soon:

Wither - Lauren DeStefano

Cover art from indiebound.org

DeStefano, Lauren. Wither. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. $17.99. Hardback (358p) ISBN: 9781442409057.

Recommended for ages 14+.

What if you were born with a known expiration date? In Wither all members of the last two generation have known their life expectancy. Men live to be twenty-five and women perish at the age of twenty. In a world such as this to maintain the population young girls are frequently kidnapped and forced into marriage. Sixteen-year-old Rhine wishes nothing more than to avoid this fate and remain with her twin brother. Yet fate has a different outcome in mind.

When Rhine makes a poor choice she soon finds herself one of rich Linden's four wives. Rhine is full of anger and hatred. She begins to plans her escape. But as she does secrets are revealed. Secrets which make her feel less animosity towards the husband who truly loves her over all others. Rhine only has four years of her life lefts and now she must choose. Escape means the possibility of reuniting with her brother, whom she misses more than words can describe. Staying means a life of wealth and privilege, but as more and more secrets are revealed she realizes it does not guarantee safety.

Awards/Honors

Indie Spring Kids' Next List - Spring 2011
NPR Young Adult Fiction Finalist - 2012
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults - 2012

Other titles in the Chemical Garden Trilogy

The Frenzy - Francesca Lia Block

Cover art from Goodreads.com

“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

Cover art from indiebound.org

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

Almost Perfect - Brian Katcher

Cover art from indiebound.org

Katcher, Brian. Almost Perfect. New York: Delacorte Press, 2009. $9.99 Paperback (368p) ISBN: 9780385736657.

Recommended for ages 14 & up.

Logan Witherspoon has just begun his senior year at high school. Life should be exciting and full of promise. But his cheating long-term girlfriend has dumped him, and his friends are tired of hearing about it. His sister is away at college and his mother is always working to make ends meet.  Logan is feeling depressed and alone. That is until a new girl enters his biology class. Sage Hendricks is everything Logan every wanted in a girl – funny, witty, and cute. The two awkwardly get to know one another and soon discover they have feelings for each other. Everything falls apart when Sage confides in Logan her deepest secret - that she is physically a boy. Logan is enraged and storms off. What will his friends and family think if Sage’s secret is made public? It doesn’t take long for confusion to set in as Logan realizes that he deeply misses Sage’s friendship. Yet in order for their friendship to succeed Logan must accept Sage for who she is and come to terms with Almost Perfect.

Awards/Honors
ALA Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award - 2011
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults - 2010
ALA Rainbow Book List -2010
YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults - 2013

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Cover art from indiebound.org

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

Cover art from indiebound.org

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:

Cover art from indiebound.org

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

.