From the Trenches
RSSSara Grajek
What if the unimaginable happened? You became indestructible. You became invisible. You had wings and could fly. You were James Bond. OK, so that last comment is a stretch, but reading about the impossible takes you places you can't go in real life-and that's a great thing. The following books feature characters in extraordinary situations who must find the inner strength to conquer their adversities.
Carman, Patrick. Thirteen Days to Midnight. Little, Brown. 2010. ISBN 978-0-316-00403-9. Ages 12-15.
"You are indestructible." Those are the last words Jacob Fielding heard before he survived the car crash that claimed the life of his foster father. Now he suspects it might be true. It seems as if he can do anything he wants and not get hurt. This opens opportunities for both risk-taking thrills and heroic acts. However, Jacob soon finds out that being indestructible doesn't come without a price. Fast-paced and very readable, this is one book that teens are sure to enjoy. Although the story kept me up at night reading, I felt the ending was not as strong as the rest of the book. But overall, this is definitely one to recommend to teens, especially if they need a bit of nudging to read.
Jinks, Catherine. Evil Genius. Harcourt. 2007. ISBN 978-0-1520-5988-0. Ages 12 and up; Genius Squad. Houghton Mifflin. 2009. ISBN. 978-0-1520-6650-5. Ages 12 and up.
Intelligence is a powerful thing. Just ask Cadel Piggot who has been planning his takeover of the world since the age of seven. At 14, he meets the lovely Kay-Lee McDougall and his conscience starts to kick in. Maybe his genius could be put to better use. If you have teens who like computers, a little bit of adventure, and longer books, give them this one. For more Cadel adventures, try the sequel, Genius Squad, and watch for Genius Wars this fall.
Want more? Try these...
Carter, Ally. Heist Society. Disney. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4231-1639-4. Ages 12 and up.
Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. TOR. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7653-1985-2. Ages 14 and up.
Higson, Charlie. Silverfin: A James Bond Adventure. Hyperion. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4231-2262-3. Ages 12 and up.
Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. Little, Brown. 2005. ISBN 978-0-3161-5556-4. Ages 12 and up.
Wells, H.G. The Invisible Man. Penguin. 2002. ISBN 978-0-4515-2852-0. Ages 14 and up.
Sara Grajek is a reference and information technology librarian at the Rowan Public Library in Salisbury, NC, where they also let her help out with teen and children's activities.
