Interesting Reader Society: Book Reviews by Young Adults

-- School Library Journal, 9/15/2009 10:21:00 AM

Pearson, Mary. The Miles Between. Holt. September 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8050-8828-1. Gr 9 and up.

Destiny Faraday has made it a practice to notice other peoples' habits, all the while keeping her distance from them. She sticks to her routine like clockwork until the crumpling of a calendar page, meeting a stranger, and a glorious car sweep her away in the momentum of the day. With three of her classmates along for the ride, they search for a single fair day, one where they are reunited with their past and the good guys win.

Destiny and her friends go on an epic journey that teaches them about themselves and one another. They have to face things they've been running from for years. We all have something that we want to forget, and this book shows why we shouldn't forget it. Destiny's story is heartbreaking and beautiful, and deserves to be read.

The cover reflects the story very well, especially because they find their world tipped on its head thanks to a road trip. The coincidences in the story make it funny and interesting, but it has to be the past that Destiny is set on running from that makes this tale truly hard to put down. Sometimes the coincidences went a little into the realm of unpredictable, but that just made the story more interesting.—Rachel M., age 16

Jones, Patrick. The Tear Collector. Walker. September 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8027-8710-1. Gr 9-12.

Cassie Gray grows up in a world where she is different. She needs others to be miserable in order for her and her family to continue to exist. Her kind never feels love until one day a boy steps into her life and changes it forever. Will the vampire that thrives on tears give up everything for good?

The cover reflects Cassie’s ability to find people miserable enough to sustain her, yet still appear normal. The tear shows her nature, but something screams out from the look in the boy's eyes that there might be something else there.

The aspect that draws you in is that Cassie is different among her own kind and among humans. She has always done everything unquestioningly. When she decides that enough is enough, the book really begins to get interesting. I kept wondering what was going to happen next, but at the same time, the story was predictable. In the beginning, there’s no plot whatsoever. It is just about a teenage girl going to a drama-filled high school. The only thing that kept me reading was when another student guessed at her true nature. Once things started to fall into place, I started to like the story.

I think the book has great potential, however the plot is all over the place in some areas and the story is quite depressing. I think that some happy moments would have helped if they were added in the beginning. All it seems to be about is tears, drama, tears, sex, tears, death—oh, and tears! The last half is good; it has a very satisfying ending!—Katerina V., age 16

Cole, Steve. Z. Rex (The Hunting Series, Book 1). Philomel. September 2009. ISBN: 978-0-399-25253-2. Gr 5-8.

Adam is a normal boy living in New Mexico—except for the fact that his dad is a video-game designer. And the latest game his dad is working on is based on his son—Adam. When an invisible monster wreaks havoc in the industrial park and destroys his apartment, the next three weeks will be an adventure that Adam will never forget.

The cover portrayed the one very important part of this book—a dinosaur, but not just any old dinosaur, this is a Z. Rex. The most compelling aspect of the book is the science-fiction story line and action surrounding it. Between flying dinosaurs and ultra-reality video games, where you can be anything you want, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. The only thing I found disappointing was the language in the dialogue. Adam “loses” his mouth a few times, and I had to put that aside in my mind as I read. I read the book in a day, an easy read for a quiet time or time where there’s just nothing to do.—Jordan H., age 14

Mead, Richelle. Blood Promise: A Vampire Academy Novel. (#4) Razorbill. August 2009. ISBN: 978-1-59514-198-9. Gr 7-11.

Just prior to her graduation from St. Vladimir's Academy, almost-guardian Rose has set off and is in Russia when she meets Sydney, an alchemist who leads her to enigmatic Demitri's family. After a fight with Victoria and a deal with Abe, Rose goes to Novoskva to kill Strigoi, which are Immortal Vampires with super strength and speed, only to get kidnapped by none other than Demitri himself.

This book can tear your heart into tiny pieces and make you so happy you jump around all at the same time, but there’s also a certain grace to the writing. The characters are amazing and so human; even when they aren't, you can tell why they make every decision they make and they all will find a place in your heart. The cover is gorgeous and it goes with the rest of the series nicely. The most exciting part of the story was the moment of uncertainty when Rose recognized Demitri and made the mistake of hesitating. The only thing disappointing about this book it that the sequel doesn't come out until May 18, 2010.—Geneva S., age 16

Beaudoin, Sean. Fade to Blue. Little, Brown. August 2009. ISBN: 978-0-316-01417-5. Gr 8 and up.

Sophie Blue's life begins to fall apart after her father disappears on her 17th birthday. While trying to hold on to her quickly shrinking sanity, Sophie encounters evil Popsicle men and a Nurse that's out to get her, dies multiple times, and becomes the leader in a zombie apocalypse. In a quest to stay alive and find her father, Sophie will have to face the dreaded Nurse and return to the lab where all her darkest memories lie.

The cover definitely reflects the content of the book; it has the comic book style seen within the story, and gives you glimpses of the tale yet to come. Honestly, this book made me laugh. While having its serious moments, it's just utterly strange and wonderful. Beaudoin has captured both the essence of a teen, and the fun of a comic book, and takes the reader from an office with a man and his oddly comforting sweater to evil janitors to the end-of-the-world, zombie style.