Anastasiu, Heather & Anne Greenwood Brown. Girl Last Seen. 272p. ebook available. Albert Whitman. Mar. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780807581407.

Gr 9 Up –This novel draws readers deep into the twisted world of two viral singing sensations and the boys who love them. Kadence (Kady) and Lauren are two best friends well on their way to breaking into the indie pop music scene, having already achieved Internet fame with their original songs that garnered thousands of hits and rabidly loyal fans on YouTube. Everything seems bright for these stars on the rise—that is, until Lauren loses her voice and Kady suddenly goes missing, leaving Lauren as the last person to have seen her alive. As the town and the online world turn on Lauren, she seeks solace in Jude, the handsome bad boy just back from the brink of a few psychotic episodes and stalking allegations. Where has Kady gone, and who can be trusted? Readers will hunt down the answers to these questions and more right up until the final, shocking reveals. Intriguing from the start, this work is easy to recommend to fans of April Henry. All of the usual suspects are accounted for in terms of genre tropes (broken friendships, romantic betrayal, jealousy, bullying, and rumors running amok throughout the halls of high school), but they’re all presented in a fresh and modern way without overtly trying to be too hip. The authors really seem to grasp the fickle and duplicitous role that the Internet plays in the lives of their target readers, and they incorporate it seamlessly into their characters’ development and plotlines. VERDICT A sexy, fascinating, fast-paced, and darkly dynamic mystery for teens.–Emily Grace Le May, Providence Community Library, RI

Briggs, Elizabeth. Future Shock. 272p. ebook available. Albert Whitman. Apr. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780807526828.

Gr 8 Up –Elena believes that her eidetic, or photographic, memory makes her a freak, and moving from foster home to foster home after her father ends up in prison for killing her mother only reinforces her thinking. Being different in foster care is asking for trouble, and her violent temper surfaces as she defends other foster children who are bullied. When high-tech Aether Corporation promises to reimburse her for her participation in a research project to the extent that she could support herself for the rest of her life, she can’t say no, even when the project involves a dangerous time travel experiment. Four other teens with special skills, including three from foster care, are recruited with her, and together, they forge into the unknown, with deadly consequences none of them could have predicted. Everything that can go wrong does, and the teens are left to deal with the past as well as the future on their own, unsure if they can trust one another or the Aether scientists who are using them. This is an entertaining science fiction murder mystery that doesn’t particularly stand out but should appeal to James Patterson fans along with readers of Michael Grant’s “Gone” series (HarperCollins). VERDICT A good fit for collections serving science fiction fans and teens in marginalized situations, who will appreciate the attention given to the emotional consequences of the foster care experience.–Kerry Sutherland, Akron-Summit County Public Library, OH

Hammel, Sara. The Underdogs. 256p. ebook available. Farrar. May 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780374301613; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780374301637.

Gr 6-10 –The big reveal in this mystery is not who murdered golden girl Annabel Harper at an exclusive Massachusetts tennis club—though that’s startling enough. No, there’s actually a far bigger surprise. In alternating chapters, narrator Chelsea fills readers in on all that happened the weeks before Annabel was found dead by the side of the club’s pool, and after, as a local detective examined motives and opportunities among rising teen tennis stars, rich kids, and club personnel. Annabel was a fixture at the club, where her older brother was a lifeguard, and was especially nice to Chelsea and her best friend, Evie. Beautiful and sweet, Annabel attracted a great deal of attention and jealousy. But who could have disliked her enough to murder her? As with most good cozies, the suspects are numerous and the detective is tenacious. He has to be—as Evie and Chelsea follow him around and make dangerous discoveries on their own. Meanwhile, Evie, who is teased for being overweight, discovers she has a natural gift for tennis, though her tennis pro father seems not to notice. Readers learn more about Chelsea’s mysterious and abusive past before the club’s manager adopted her. The plot is well-thought-out, and though there isn’t a great deal of character development, except in Evie’s case, there doesn’t have to be for this mystery to score. VERDICT Once they get to the end, mystery lovers will want to go back and read it all again to find the hidden clues.–Marie Drucker, Malverne Public Library, NY

Moger, Susan. Of Better Blood. 272p. ebook available. Albert Whitman. Feb. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780807547748.

Gr 6-9 –Rowan is the youngest daughter in the affluent Collier family living in Manhattan a century ago. Though the girl grows up without a mother, her childhood is comfortable and carefree. That is, until Rowan is struck by polio. As the family struggle to cope with their own prejudice, the protagonist is sent away. She befriends Dorchy, another young girl with her own set of problems, in her journey to find the inner strength to cope with her new disability and the raw rejection of her family. As their summer unfolds, the friends uncover the horrific plans of their wardens to create a “fitter” society. They vow to save their friends, but they aren’t even sure if they will be able to save themselves. Moger crafts likable characters who mature over the course of the book. A few characters are downright villainous, and most follow predictable paths of personal growth. The story touches on delicate subjects, such as forced sterilization, with sensitivity. While the account of Rowan is fictional, Moger explains the historical context of her story in the notes at the end of the book. Despite a slow start to the story, the pace of the plot picks up with unexpected challenges and heartbreaking results. Readers will enjoy the mystery as it mounts in the final chapters but may be frustrated with the realistic conclusion. VERDICT This book is an engaging work of historical fiction that would be a great addition for any middle school library.–Paige Rowse, Needham High School, MA

These reviews were published in the School Library Journal February 2016 issue.