Rebel Angels

by Libba Bray. New York: Dleacorte Press, c. 2005, pbk. 548 pages. ISBN 978-0-385-73341-0

Second book in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. It is near Christmastime and Gemma and her friends are looking forward to time away from Spence Academy. But their time of celebration is clouded by the dangers brought on by Gemma's recent actions in the Realms. Now the magic is loose and many are after its power. It is now up to Gemma to find the Temple and bind the magic to restore order to the Realms. But who can she trust when so many thirst for the power?

This book is a must read for fans of the first book, A Great and Terrible Beauty. Not only is this book full of mystery and fantasy, but Bray also gives the reader an opportunity to ponder racism, classism and the roles of women in Victorian England.

The Secret Fiend: The Boy Sherlock, His Fourth Case

by Shane Peacock. Tundra Books: 2010, 244 pages. ISBN 978-0887768538

Fourth book in an award-winning series for children and teens, The Secret Fiend finds a young Sherlock Holmes trying to not get involved in a case involving a young female admirer. This case revolves around attacks by a believed-to-be-fictional Spring Heeled Jack while paranoia and disorder begin to envelope the country as the Jewish Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister.

Full of historical detail and clues leading to wrong turns, this book will excite young and adult readers. Familiarity with the previous books is not necessary to enjoy The Secret Fiend, but many readers will no doubt seek out the others after finishing this tale.

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, c.2009. 199 pages. ISBN 9780385737425

Twelve-year-old New Yorker Miranda is being sent notes that seem to predict the future. Who are they from and does this mean time travel is possible? The mystery unfolds all the while Miranda loses and gains friendships and helps her mother prepare for her appearance on a TV game show.

2010 Newbery Medal Winner, Junior Library Guild Selection

Let the Right One In

by John Ajvide Lindqvist, translated by Ebba Segerberg. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, c. 2007. 472 pages. ISBN 9780312355296

{First published in Sweden under the title Låt den rätte komma in by Ordfront and first published in the United States under the title Let Me In.}

Oskar at twelve years old is overweight and the main target for cruel bullies at school. Lonely, he finds comfort in the sweets he shoplifts and his scrapbook of articles on murderers and serial killers. Soon Oskar has articles to add about a local boy murdered, a murder described as "ritualistic." Around the same time, new neighbors move in, a young girl and her father. Oskar finds himself intrigued by the girl, Eli, and they begin to meet, but only at night.

The story takes place in a Swedish suburb and over several weeks in 1981. This book is violent and disturbing and I highly recommend it. If you want to read about vampires that actually do the things that make vampires scary, read this. It is also a sad and moving mystery. The film adaptation is also worth viewing even if you do not want to read the book.

The Eyeball Collector

by F.E. Higgins. New York: Feiwel and Friends, c. 2009. 251 pages.

Hector Fitzbaudly gets his wish to experience the seedier side of Urbs Umida when his father is blackmailed with a secret form his past. Finding himself penniless and homeless, Hector realizes this is not the life he wants and he decides to seek revenge. Unfortunately, the Eyeball Collector is a master of disguise! This book is called a “polyquel” by the author, as it contains elements from both The Black Book of Secrets and The Bone Magician as well as its own mysteries.

The Bone Magician

by F.E. Higgins. New York: Feiwel and Friends, c. 2008. 273 pages.

Pin Carpue is orphaned in the in the crime-ridden city of Urbs Umida after his father runs off, accused of being a murderer. Pin finds work as a corpse watcher, ensuring that the dead are truly dead before they are buried. Eventually Pin ends up living in the same boarding house as a bone magician and his assistant—who seem to be able to raise the dead! This book is dubbed as “paraquel” by the author—the story occurs at the same as the tale in The Black Book of Secrets.

The Black Book of Secrets

by F.E. Higgins. New York: Feiwel and Friends, c. 2007. 273 pages.

Ludlow Fitch is running away from his past (and some tooth-thieving parents!). He finds himself in a remote village where he becomes the assistant to a mysterious pawnbroker, Joe Zabbidou. This pawnbroker specializes in people’s secrets and Ludlow is charged with transcribing them in the Black Book of Secrets. Lucky for Ludlow and Joe, this village is full of people with dark and dangerous secrets to pawn. For fans of historically-based fiction and notably that of late 1800s in England with its many gruesome details of teeth pulling (and selling) and grave robbing.

So Yesterday

Title: So Yesterday
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publication date: 2004
Number of pages: 240
Genre: young adult fiction
Geographical setting: New York City
Time period: present, early 2000s
Series: N/A

Plot: Seventeen-year-old Hunter stalks and tracks “cool.” Or to put it better, he is a “cool hunter.” When he notices the originality of how a girl in the park ties her shoelaces, he knows he has met an Innovator. This encounter with Jen James leads to a fast-paced adventure as amateur detectives where they try to rescue a possibly kidnapped friend and attempt to unravel a plot to sabotage the consumer culture in which Hunter is an important player.

Subject headings: mystery and detective stories, fashion, coolness, fads, consumerism, advertising, literature for boys, kidnapping, focus groups

Appeal: first person narrative, references to popular fashion and culture, detective story for modern teens, science fiction elements of the re-wiring of people’s brains and ways of thinking through gadgets and subliminal advertising

If you liked So Yesterday, you may enjoy: M.T Anderson’s Feed; Connie Willis’s Bellwether