Book Recommendations

A group of genetically enhanced kids who can fly and have other unique talents are on the run from part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers in this exciting thriller.  Max, 14, and her adopted family–Fang and Iggy, both 13, Nudge, 11, Gazzy, 8, and Angel, 6–were all created as experiments in a lab called the School.  Jeb, a sympathetic scientist, helped them escape and, since then, they’ve been living on their own.  The Erasers have orders to kill them so the world will never find out they exist. Max’s old childhood friend, Ari, now an Eraser leader, tracks them down, kidnaps Angel, and transports her back to the School to live like a lab rat again. The youngsters are forced to use their special talents to rescue her as they attempt to learn about their pasts and their destinies.

Mrs. Branyon

Parker and Matt decide to go camping one more time before the weather gets too cold. Matt discovers a corpse and is convinced that his mother’s boyfriend is somehow involved. While investigating the murder, a cocaine ring in which Parker’s mother and George are involved is discovered and a thug kidnaps everyone. Rescue comes when Parker’s dog corners the thug and Matt’s little sister pushes a doll carriage with a cocaine-packed doll through a Halloween parade into the police station.

Mrs. Branyon

New York City is the backdrop for this mystery novel with a message about the down-and-dirty business of inventing and marketing pop-cultural fads. Hunter Braque, 17, is part of a focus group that views advertisements for shoes. A product gets the nod if it is “skate,” but it is more important to point out what might be “uncool.” When the teen brings Jen to the next meeting, she spots uncool right away. Jen and Hunter quickly find themselves caught up in a strange turn of events when Mandy, Hunter’s boss, disappears. Their search for her begins in an abandoned building in Chinatown and leads to a wild party at the Museum of Natural History where people are viewing advertisements for a new shampoo.

Mrs. Branyon

“My name is Dovey Coe, and I reckon it don’t matter if you like me or not. I’m here to lay the record straight, to let you know them folks saying I done a terrible thing are liars…. I hated Parnell Caraway as much as the next person, but I didn’t kill him.”

Twelve-year-old Dovey has never had the slightest problem speaking her mind. But now, faced with a murder trial, she may just have to keep her mouth shut while the slick city lawyer takes care of things. It all started when the wealthy, vain, greedy Parnell takes a notion to win Dovey’s older sister, trying to convince her she’s too pretty to go off to college. But behind her back, he treats Dovey and her deaf brother Amos like dirt all summer long. Dovey gets in her jabs whenever she can–until the day she finds herself trapped in a back room with an irate, vengeful Parnell. Things don’t look too good for Dovey when she comes to and finds her enemy dead on the floor next to her.

Mrs. Branyon

Tiger is one of the youngest monks in his secret temple.  When his temple is attacked and every monk is killed except Tiger and his four brothers, Monkey, Hawk, Snake and Dragon, they must scatter to learn the secrets of their past.  Each of the monks’ names are chosen due to the fighting style they have mastered. This was a great book with a lot of action. This first book in the series is about Tiger’s journey.  There is a lot of description of the gore involved in the many fighting sequences, so those with weak stomachs may want to skip this one!

Mrs. Spisak

If you are a City of Ember fan, Downsiders is a book for you! Talon lives in a secret world under the sewer grates of a major city. He and the other Downsiders never go Topside and are afraid of what lies above. But when Talon is forced to go Topside looking for medicine for his sister, he meets a Topsider, Lindsay, who is curious about his world, too. Their friendship and mutual curiosity create a danger that could destroy Talon’s world forever. Downsiders is full of action, suspence and fantasy!

Mrs. Spisak

After being left in a parking lot by their mother, thirteen-year-old Dicey and her three younger siblings have to figure out how to survive. Dicey knows if she goes to the authorities, she could risk having her family split up. So, she chooses the only other option: walking. For days they try to stay hidden and find food while journeying to find a great-aunt they have never met who may not want them. I love the connection of the family in this story, and their desire to stay together against all odds. This is one of my favorites, and the sequels are awesome, too!

Mrs. Spisak

Naomi Soledad León Outlaw has always seen herself as an outsider and as “nobody special.” For the last seven years she has been raised by her grandmother who tries to look at life positively. But when her mother suddenly reappears in her life, Naomi becomes determined to discover who she is. I love seeing the different cultures present in this book. Naomi shows us her life as an American, but we also see her Mexican culture as she travels there to discover more about herself and her family.

Mrs. Spisak