Alexander, Bridgette R. Southern Gothic: A Celine Caldwell Mystery. 320p. notes. photos. Paris 1865. Mar. 2016. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9780986152603.

Gr 8 Up– Celine Caldwell is the teenage daughter of successful art historian Julia Caldwell, who is a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When an unfamiliar man confronts Celine outside of the museum and makes cryptic threats about “going to the cops,” adding that “Julia knows what I’m talking about,” Celine becomes concerned for her mother’s safety. As she soon finds out, two paintings have been stolen from an upcoming exhibit and Julia is a suspect. Celine feels compelled to find the paintings and to learn about their historical background. Alexander’s expertise as an art historian is quite clear throughout this mystery, but the work’s plot and writing style are not likely to appeal to a wide audience. Discussion of museum politics keeps the pace very slow, and there are so many minor characters, many of whom are important in the art world, that some passages feel like an excuse for name-dropping rather than part of the narrative. Celine’s friends are likable, but they contribute little to the plot until the final chapters. Julia is the only protagonist who is fully developed, and Celine’s personality is inconsistent. Although the action picks up near the end and the conclusion does come as a surprise, the book lacks the excitement of most mystery novels. VERDICT This might appeal to readers with a strong interest in art history, but it is unlikely to be a popular choice.–Magdalena Teske, Naperville Public Library, IL

Allen-Vath, Ami. Liars and Losers Like Us. 192p. ebook available. Sky Pony. Mar. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781634501842.

Gr 7-10 –Keep calm and make it to prom night—that’s all 17-year-old Bree has to do. It’s easier said than done and becomes even more difficult when the boy she’s had a crush on gives her his number, and Maisey, the school outcast since forever ago, gets nominated for prom queen. When the prank of nominating Maisey turns into what seems to be a bad dream, how will Bree manage to deal with a new beau and Maisey’s deep, dark secret while trying to keep her cool as the drama of her school life, love life, and family life unfold? In this debut novel, Allen-Vath starts off slow before taking readers through a humorous ride of the twists and turns of a teenage love triangle. Because of the book’s cover, some may dismiss this title as just another prom queen novel, but this is an engaging read for anyone who enjoys stories of high school drama and popularity, coupled with the sometimes painful, anxious ride of adolescence. The author writes this story with bits and pieces of her own experience as a survivor of abuse, encouraging teens to stand up for the truth. VERDICT A relatable supplemental purchase.–Keisha Miller, South Orange Public Library, NJ

Frost, Everly. Fear My Mortality. 312p. (Mortal Eternity: Bk. 1). ebook available. Month9Books. Apr. 2016. pap. $15. ISBN 9781942664871.

Gr 8 Up –In a world where humans regenerate and live for centuries, war via death is no longer possible. But when Ava’s brother Josh is killed, Ava discovers that she and Josh are mortal; their genetics do not allow them to regenerate. After Josh’s murder, Ava barely escapes government agents who aim to study her mortality to create a new weapon of biological warfare. Now on the run, she receives help from the one person she hates the most: Michael, the boy who murdered her brother. Readers who can overlook implausible world-building will be treated to an action-packed sci-fi romance. The story opens with a dramatic car accident, and from there, the action rarely slows. But teens will really have to suspend disbelief, as the premise simply does not make sense. According to the narrator, no one, not even her 300-year-old neighbor, can remember a time when humans could die from illness or injury. This suggests a setting that is centuries into the future. So why are people still living in modern suburbs and using current-day cars and technology? If no one dies, why isn’t there a population problem? Are animals also immortal? And, most important, how can the protagonist feel anything but hatred for the boy who murdered her beloved brother? VERDICT Readers will have to ignore serious stretches in plausibility to enjoy this otherwise entertaining story. Give this to fans of Lissa Price’s Starters and Bethany Wiggins’s Stung.–Leigh Collazo, Dulwich College, Suzhou, China

Gold, Rachel. My Year Zero. 286p. ebook available. Bella Bks. Mar. 2016. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781594934827.

Gr 10 Up –When Sierra breezes into Lauren’s quiet life in Duluth, MN, she sets off a year that will change everything. The gorgeous and interesting college student seems like a hallucination to Lauren, especially when Sierra invites Lauren to be part of an online writing and role-playing group. As Lauren’s involvement with Sierra grows, so does her attraction. When Lauren convinces her strict but emotionally absent father to let her spend spring break in the city with Sierra and her friends, things get even more intense. The other members of the writing group are diverse, experienced, and open in a way Lauren has never experienced before. Including frank depictions of sex, mental illness, and emotional trauma, this uneven novel follows Lauren through a year of turbulence and self-discovery. The time spent on Lauren’s life before she becomes wrapped up in her new friends falls flat, with the glimpses of her life as a practicing religious Jewish teen being the most interesting and relatable aspects. Unfortunately, that thread disappears early on. The inclusion of obscure pop culture references and the unusual structure of the online writing group further stilt the first half of the book. The work eventually finds its footing with a narrower focus on the characters. The emotional breakthroughs are touching and genuine but make for slow plot points. With most of the actual dramatic events taking place late in the book, readers who fail to connect with Lauren early on will be bored. VERDICT An additional purchase for collections needing more mature LGBTQ stories.–Amy Diegelman, Vineyard Haven Public Library, MA

Lukens, F.T. The Star Host. 258p. ebook available. Duet. Mar. 2016. pap. $15.99. ISBN 9781941530726.

Gr 7 Up –Seventeen-year-old Ren has had a rural upbringing as a duster. He has never known his father and has grown up listening to his mother’s legends of Star Hosts. When he’s abducted by the power-hungry Baron along with his friends, Ren finds a power awakening within him. When a ruthless general discovers Ren’s potential as a technopath, the teen struggles to master his overwhelming new abilities and escape before he can be used in the Baron’s scheme to conquer not only Ren’s home planet but the entire alliance in their part of the galaxy. Anchoring Ren to his humanity as the star power consumes him is Ash, a hostage member of the Phoenix Corps with an irreverent attitude and an interest in Ren that only intensifies when they’re on the run. As the two race to keep Ren’s ability out of the Baron’s control and seek the aid of the Corps, their connection deepens even amid the fear and suspicion they encounter at every turn. In direct contrast to the energetic plot, the flirtation between the two develops at a tantalizing pace, from their first introduction, in adjacent iron cells, to the final conflict. Lukens writes a satisfying balance of action and romance in a science fiction setting that will feel familiar to fans of the genre. Readers of Shannon Hale’s Dangerous will appreciate this work. VERDICT Add this title to young adult sci-fi collections, and expect readers to eagerly anticipate the next book in the series.–Amanda Foulk, Sacramento Public Library

McGarry, Katie. Walk the Edge. 448p. (Thunder Road: Bk. 2). ebook available. Harlequin Teen. Apr. 2016. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780373211623.

Gr 9 Up –Breanna is the smart, quiet, and weird girl. Her daily goal is to remain invisible. With a large family who sees her more as an annoying parent than a sibling, and classmates who view her as a freak, Breanna just wants to get out of this town and start a new life. She is propositioned by Kyle, a cool jock at her high school, to write his papers in exchange for popularity, but she just wants to be left alone. Razor, a member of the ominous Reign of Terror motorcycle club, cannot let go of the questions he has about his family’s past. Why will no one tell him what they know about his mother’s death? Razor must trust the club. But how can he trust them if they are keeping important information from him? When Breanna first meets Razor, she knows speaking to him is wrong. But maybe he can help her with Kyle. And maybe she can help Razor uncover what really happened to his mom. Can a good girl and a bad boy work together to solve each other’s problems? In this stand-alone second installment of the “Thunder Road” series, McGarry develops a daring love story filled with blackmail, revenge, and unexpected trust. VERDICT McGarry once again creates an incredible story with two dynamic protagonists. YA romance fans will be thrilled by her latest.–Jessica Strefling, US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit Library

Moriarty, Jaclyn. A Tangle of Gold. 480p. (The Colors of Madeleine: Bk. 3). ebook available. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. Apr. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545397407.

Gr 6-9 –Moriarty ably wraps up the many plot threads woven through this concluding volume. Elliot and his father, reunited at the end of The Cracks in the Kingdom, are brought back to the magical kingdom of Cello, and it seems Madeleine’s involvement with the parallel world has come to an end. But worsening nosebleeds and visions of another century plague Madeleine, while back in Cello, Elliot is being held captive by a dangerous group who want to overthrow the monarchy Elliot, Madeleine, and the Royal Youth Alliance have been working so hard to restore. This tale concurrently presents a multitude of stories in three settings (Madeleine’s world, Elliot’s hometown, and Elliot’s Hostile prison), and teens may feel overwhelmed by the large cast, multiple locations, and intertwining plotlines. Yet despite the complexity, the story works, zigging and zagging in pleasantly surprising ways. The magic continues to be refreshingly inventive, and the world-building is so precise readers will easily picture the lands of Cello in their minds. Elliot and Madeleine are characters to cherish. The sweetly satisfying conclusion will leave fans with a smile. VERDICT This final installment will garner even more followers for the inventive, exciting series.–Elisabeth Gattullo Marrocolla, Darien Library, CT

Reed, Jaime. Keep Me in Mind. 336p. ebook available. Scholastic/Point. Apr. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545883818.

Gr 9 Up –Ellia Dawson and Liam McPherson are the school’s “it” couple. Then one day everything changes. Ellia suffers a bad accident and loses her memory. She can remember her life growing up and her old friends, but she can’t seem to place the boy who has been by her side through her recovery. The teen fights to remember two years that are lost from her memory. Throughout the story, she learns not only who she was but who she is at present, how to deal with the changes that are happening, and how to now understand the people around her. Though the pacing moves slowly at times, the narrative, told in alternating perspectives, will captivate teens and keep them reading to the end. The writing style is engaging and well-done, and the characters are memorable; young adults will be rooting for the interracial couple. This tearjerker will have emotions running—high and low. VERDICT Purchase for collections looking to fill their teary-romance shelves.–Caitlin Wilson, Brooklyn Public Library

Scott, Nick & Noa Gavin. Practical Applications for Multiverse Theory. 240p. ebook available. Inkshares. Apr. 2016. pap. $13.99. ISBN 9781941758670.

Gr 10 Up –Nerdy Scott and cheerleader Davey do not have much in common. That is, until alternate universes begin collapsing into their school. At first, they are sure they are losing their minds, but then they realize that they are both seeing the same thing—and they are the only two who can. Can Scott’s library copy of The Multiverse Theory and their physics teacher help save them? Spiders with six-foot-long bodies, steampunk girl fans with mechanical jaws that unhinge, and a brontosaurus in a lavender pantsuit and a fancy hat are just a few of the things that they observe in their school. Davey is not about to lose the chance to become homecoming queen because of all this inconvenience. Scott is more interested in staying alive, but eventually the two of them realize that they must resolve their differences in order to bring the universe back together. The mature language and sexual situations make this title more appropriate for older teens. This is an entertaining science fiction comedy for fans of Andrew Smith’s Grasshopper Jungle or Scott Westerfeld’s steampunk “Leviathan” series. VERDICT A good general purchase for those looking to beef up their sci-fi shelves.–Deanna McDaniel, Genoa Middle School, OH

Self, Jeffery. Drag Teen. 272p. ebook available. Push. Apr. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545829939.

Gr 8 Up –Seventeen-year-old JT Barnett lives a humdrum existence in Clearwater, FL, working in the family gas station, drifting through school, and dreaming of fabulous days to come. His one attempt at drag led to public humiliation in a school talent show, so he is reluctant when Seth, his wildly attractive, overachieving boyfriend, encourages him to enter the Miss Drag Teen pageant in New York City. The prize of a four-year college scholarship ultimately convinces JT, and after lying to their parents, he, his best friend Heather, and Seth embark on a spring break road trip that leads to fights, honest reckonings, and encounters with a cast of remarkable personalities. With the exception of spiteful Tash, the diverse group of pageant contestants offer JT acceptance and a tantalizing glimpse into a brighter world. This joyous, life-affirming novel moves at a brisk pace, hitting the perfect balance between action and introspection. The sympathetically drawn characters—Heather struggles with fat prejudice, impossibly perfect Seth is hiding a secret, JT is riddled with anxiety and self-doubt—are appealingly authentic. While their world is not entirely free of bigotry, homophobia refreshingly does not define the boys’ relationship or lives. The only false note is the resolution of the rivalry between JT and Tash, which feels a bit too pat. Pulling back the curtain on the glamorous world of drag, this novel explores universal themes of family, friendship, and identity with verve and panache. VERDICT A first purchase.–Laura Simeon, Open Window School Library, WA