December

WWI steampunk. The Darwinists in England use fabricated animals as machines, whereas the Clankers of Germany use advanced machinery. The two protagonists meet and flee in the end: Alek, son of the murdered ArchDuke of Austria is hiding from everyone, and Deryn (taking the name Dylan) joins the airforce aboard the Leviathan. Lots of description of war machines, but not too much to distract from the story. Not a difficult read but YA for violence, and level of writing. Not up to the Uglies series, but worth reading. This is a strange story of reincarnation of a dog as another dog each time he dies until his purpose is completed. Moving. Fine for MS. Continues the story of Clary Fray, Jace and miscellaneous other Shadowhunters. Evil Valentine is seeking the Soul-Sword to raise a demon army. Lots of violence, vampires, werewolves, and demons. And as in all book twos, a hanging ending. OK. Long but not difficult. A year of writing in a newly created class of overflow fifth graders. Max, Giovanni, Destiny and Willie develop in different ways but become quite the family. Teachers will like this, but I'm not so sure about kid readers. It feels like a teacher talking. Not only that but it echoes lessons from Lucy Calkins. Hmmm. Maybe a teacher might read it aloud. For kid reading--not exciting. Apparently a "dystopia" classic. I find these really depressing, although the ending was quite satisfying. So much of the story though was just torturing the Surpluses. Surplus Anna is being trained at Grange Hall to be a Valuable Asset (house servant), until Peter arrives and tells her he knows her parents and she is Anna Covey. The story is nicely contrived, and the concepts of Longevity pills that provide eternal life for the living population, while requiring punishments for Surpluses should be a great discussion. First in a series. YA for violence, sexual discussions. The foursome of dysfunctional teenage divers continue to try to block a team of treasure hunters while finding the gold from a 300 year old shipwreck. Lots more diving adventures and near death scenes. Excellent plot. Great read. 5th+ Tess has all kinds of thoughts about good luck. Some of hers depends on the success of a plan to have enough foster kids on their island to keep the local school open and her mother employed. The foster kid, Aaron, isn't exactly what she expected and each day brings challenges. Nicely done. Unusual setting: small island community in Maine. And things do work out pretty neatly (unlike reality!). I like this for a possible read aloud. 4th+ Very Good. Totally Dystopia. And depressing. Titus meets Violet who is different from his other "units" (friends) who live according to the feed. They are continually fed advertising from FeedTek. But life somehow is still boring. But Violet malfunctions. Some sexual scenes but nothing explicit. The kids drink and go "mal" which is getting overloaded on the feed. This is a statement story on the American society, way overstated. Certainly a discussion starter. YA for language. Hank Zipzer Quick read. Emily's mother and benefactor have died and she is being shipped off to Redbud and her aunt. But her wicked Uncle Victor knows he is her closest relative and she is due $10 million. Another orphan, Jackson, helps her in the long trip to Redbud. Good read. 3rd+ Nicky is miserable in a new crummy school, sleeping on a sofabed, with a checked out Mom who one day brings home Reggie. A "retired" guide dog, revelations about Reggie's past and voila--a mystery to be solved. Nicely developed and moving moments of supreme frustration. I loved this one. 4th + Book two. Mary Hightower, the Sky Witch, trolls the Eastern Everlost in the Hindenburg while Nick, the Chocolate Ogre drives a civil war train across the South. Both are looking to save Afterlights in their own way. Except Mary's way is weirdly evil. Outcast Allie is still trying to find her way to her living family. Skinjacker Milos complicates things as he first helps Allie and then joins Mary. This is a remarkable story based on pergatory, and considerations of what is good and what is evil. Meeting in a vortex that is Graceland makes for a terrific climax to this second part of a trilogy. YA for maturity of thought.
 * Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld **
 * A Dog's Purpose by W Bruce Cameron **
 * City of Ashes Book two of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare **
 * 4 Kids in 5E and 1 Crazy Year by Virginia Frances Schwartz **
 * The Declaration by Gemma Malley **
 * Dive: Book Two The Deep by Gordon Korman **
 * Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord (of Rules) **
 * Feed by M T Anderson **
 * Emily's Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor **
 * How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life (and a Dog) by Art Corriveau **
 * Everwild by Neal Shusterman **