The Mortal Instruments Series- Clare

Titles include:

City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, and City of Fallen Angels

Clary Fray and her best friend, Simon have their lives turned upside-down when they meet Jace.  He is a boy unlike anyone Clary has ever met.  She can't stop thinking about him, but Jace's world and his powers make him an attractive but dangerous young man.  Jace introduces Clary and Simon into the realm of demon-slaying Shadowhunters.  The Shadowhunters have mad skills and are always ready for battle.  They acknowledge the Downworlders but try to avoid them as they are not particulaly fond of the Night Children (vampires), or Lycanthropes (werewolves), or even the warlocks, and faeries that make up this realm. The Shadowhunters and the Downworlders do have a common enemy throughout the series, Valentine, a power-hungry, evil man.  Jace and Clary each have past histories with Valentine but that isn't always a good thing as you will find out as you read the novels.

I love this series. If you are a Hunger Games fan, or a Maze Runner fan, or maybe an Twilight fan, you're going to love this series too! Fast-paced, lots of action, the forbidden romance, it is all in this series!




Mrs. G

Birthmarked-O'Brien

This is certainly a book for the more mature reader. 

Gaia and her parents live outside the wall.  The people inside the wall live a much easier life but that has never really bothered Gaia until now.  Now, the soldiers have made it personal.  They have taken Gaia's parents because the government suspects them of withholding information that the government wants.  Gaia tries to carry on without them.  She has been trained as a midwife by her mother and she is the only one left in their Sector to help deliver babies.  Gaia has always followed the rules of the Enclave but now she is beginning to question everything about her government.  Should she keep working along as if nothing has happened or risk her life to get inside the walls so she can save her parents?  She knows she can't do it alone, but who can she trust to help her?  Could she live with the guilt of putting others lives in danger? 

The Gardener- Bodeen

Mason finally met the girl of his dreams, Laila.  He met her at the Haven of Peace home where his mother works.  It happen quite by accident, he went there to meet up with his best friend and winds up waking Laila up from a coma.  Laila's first reaction is to run and well since Mason feels responsible for her, he follows and ends up trying to hide her from the authorities. Weird, right?  Well, it gets even creepier when you learn what is really behind Laila's coma and the Haven of Peace.  Things are not what they seem.  You see, instead of being a restful care home, Haven of Peace is really an experimental science lab.

I still have mixed feelings about this book.  It has an Unwind type of vibe, that science-fiction/contemporary fiction feel.  It definitely makes you wonder where science will take us in the future and about what would happen if the wrong person were left in charge.  Can't wait to hear your opinions.

Mrs. G
 

The Grimm Legacy- Shulman

Elizabeth has started a new job.  She works at the New York Circulating Material Repository.  Instead of lending out books, the Repository lends out objects- everything from tea sets and hockey sticks to Marie Antoinette's everyday wig.  The collection that requires special access is the Grimm Collection.  As you can imagine this collection includes some pretty powerful magic, not be to handled by just anyone.  When strange things begin happening around the Repository Elizabeth starts feeling very unsettled about the collection. Is someone stealing from the Grimm Collection?  I mean who wouldn't want to wear magical shoes or borrow a magic wand?  When it comes to fairy tales it always seems like with something good comes something evil.   Who is going to pay the price for this one?

Mrs. G  

The Dead Boys-Buckingham

Teddy Mathews is new to town. He and his mother have moved in next door to an abandon house with the most extraordinary tree in the back yard.  It seems to have an unusual power over Teddy almost as if it could talk to him.  As Teddy begins to explore his new town he meets a few boys who he feels could be potential new friends.  That is until trouble starts to come his way.  I mean how many new kids in town are already in trouble with the law within days of arriving.  What is the connection between Teddy, the tree, and the boys?

I have to tell you I found this story to be a little creepy.  I wondered, "Where in the world did this author come up with the idea for this story?"  I hope you will consider reading it because I would love to get your impression of the storyline.  Why did he write this book?

Mrs. G

DWEEB: Burgers, Beasts, and Brainwashed Bullies- Starmer

Five of the smartest boys in their school have been framed for stealing Bake Sale money.  They know they are innocent but what can they do?  The principal says he has fingerprint evidence and he says the money was found in their lockers. How can that be? 

The Principal's solution to the "crime" is to imprison the boys in a small room under the school.  The boys must work together and use their academic talents to expose the Principal for the fiend he truly is.

Cloaked in Red- Vande Velde

Ever wish you could rewrite a fairy tale and give the story a new twist?  That is exactly what Vivian Vande Velde has done with this book.  She has taken the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood and given the reader eight new views.  She is pretty insightful really, I mean, who does send their young daughter on a walk through the woods knowing that there is danger there?  Why doesn't her mother take the basket of goodies herself?  Shouldn't Red Riding Hood recognize her grandmother? (I think the hairy arms should have been a clue that something was up.) 

Anyway,  I liked her idea of rewriting the fairy tale.  I'll bet you could come up with some creative versions of your favorite stories as well.

Mrs. G