2011+September

Divorce is usually painful, but Mclean's family was practically national news. Her mother left her dad for his favorite team's coach. She choses to live with her dad but he only stays in one place for a few months. Every time they move she create a new persona. So who is she really? As usual, Dessen has a cast of such very interesting characters, including the mysterious bad(?) boy Dave. The Luna Blu café makes for a great setting too. **City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments Book Four) by Cassandra Clare** And we thought the war was over. Shadowhunters are being murdered and Simon, the newly vampired, is also being stalked. Except the Mark of Cain turns his attackers into salt. Clary and Jace are on and off as Jace still doubts himself. The passion does burst out now and again (whew, hot…) and Simon is trying to date Isabelle and Maia (a werewolf). This is complicated and yet intertwines so well the ending is so very logical--and scary. Infinitely better than the werewolf romance in Linger. YA for steaminess. And violence. The story line literally encompasses the entire history of mankind. Adam and Eve and Lilith. **Forever by maggie stiefvater** Dragged through the last one (Shiver) and half way through this one. Then quit. Not enough plot to keep me going I guess. I don't even care what happens to anyone anymore. Let them all be wolves. Or not. Obviously they are not going to let the evil senator kill off the whole pack. I just couldn't finish. YA **Torn: The Missing book 4 by Margaret Haddix** Jonah and his sister Katherine are thrown into 1611 to find John Hudson, son of Henry Hudson. They are in the middle of a mutiny onboard the Discovery as most of the men are starving and sick. Interesting look at Hudson as a megalomaniac. Some information about his search for the Northwest Passage. I still get confused about JB and Second (the adult time-traveler guides), and the whole process. Fans of the series will be happy. 4th+ **The Bridge to Never Land by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson** Aiden and Sarah Cooper find a note in a Victorian desk that leads them to treasure associated with the Starcatcher books. Could they have been true? Is there really star dust and really an evil Ombra who steals shadows, and souls? This was as thrilling as the first series. It is linked to Disneyworld too. These writers have mad skills. 4th+ **Janitors by Tyler Whitesides** Spencer Zumbro washes with some soap left in the boys bathroom, and now he can see weird creepy things crawling around the school. Turns out they are winged Rubbish, slimy Grimes, and spiky Filths. They suck learning brainwaves from kids leaving them lethargic, distracted and sleepy. This story is humorous and moves along pretty well. Some of the writing is a little wooden, but the ending is sufficiently climactic. I like it, if not my favorite. 4th+ **Clementine by Sara Pennypacker** Delightful. She was just trying to help and her best friend ends up with no hair. **Bruiser by Neal Shusterman** Brewster has always been the loner weirdo at school, voted most likely to get the death penalty. Now Bronte and her brother Tennyson have gotten involved in helping him. They soon discover his secret when Tennyson sees Brewster's uncle and brother in a violent confrontation. Bronte can't give up. This is deep. Bruiser's gift (and curse!) has so many side effects. The ending is more positive than I expected, knowing Shusterman. Excellent. YA for violence. **Leap Day: a novel by Wendy Mass** Josie wakes up to her fourth birthday when she turns 16. She's a Leaper--born on February 29th. This is just the story of her special day. It becomes a novel becausee we jump into the brain of everyone she meets, sometimes seeing into their future. Interesting concept. Some nice complications. Not extremely gripping. (I had just finished Bruiser to be fair…) YA for some discussion of sex and a pregnant highschooler.
 * What happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen**