Street Magic by Tamora Pierce (Circle Opens Quartet, Book 2)

Pierce, Tamora (2002). Street Magic. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780509396431

264 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Magic, Royalty, Fantasy, Relationships, 

Reader's Annotation

Briar, now a full-powered mage, is traveling with his mentor when he encounters a young street urchin in possession of powerful stone magic whom he must protect from warring gangs seeking to exploit her powers. 

Summary

Similar to the first book in the series, Magic Steps, the former student becomes a teacher. In this book, Briar, the plant mage, has come into his power. While traveling with his mentor, he comes acros Evvy, an urchin who can perform powerful storm magic. He finds that, having discovered her, he is responsible for her and must protect her from those seeking to use her and her talents, but this places Briar in and uncomfortable position between warring gangs who desire to use Evvy for their own ends. 

Notes

Although this is a sequel to Pierce's Magic Steps, it can also stand alone as a book. Pierce carefully weaves the story so that readers are brought along every step of Briar's journey as he becomes a teacher and protector of a young mage. Those interested in learning more and following these characters should explore the Magic Circle books by Tamora Pierce or other books in this series. 

Author Information

Tamora Pierce Fansite

Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce (Circle Opens Quartet, Book 1)

Pierce, Tamora (2001). Magic Steps. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780590396059

272 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: War, Royalty, Magic,  Murder, Family, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

Sandrilene fa Toren (Sandry) is fourteen years old and fully in her powers as she helps her great-uncle, Duke Vedris IV, ruler of Emelan, recover after a near-fatal heart attack, when she realizes that she must help another with his magical training as they both work to stop a murderer. 

Summary

14-year old Sandrilene fa Toren (Sandry) has finally come into her powers. She is busy helping her great-uncle, Duke Vedris IV, the ruler of Emelan, recover after a near-fatal heart attack when she witnesses a younger boy unknowingly perform a dance of magical power. She takes it upon herself to become his trainer and to guide him in the arts of magic before he becomes a danger to more than himself. He is reluctant to accept her as a teacher, making her job more difficult. In the meanwhile, a powerful family is slowly being killed off and the two must weave magic to overcome the murderers before it is too late. 

Notes

There can be quite a bit of gore and death, so those with weak stomach should read with caution. Those who read the Magic Circle Quartet will recognize the characters in this book as they have grown and developed. Younger teens will find it easier to relate to young Sandry than older teens, but anyone who enjoys a skillful fantasy narrative will enjoy this and the other books in the series. 

Author Information

Tamora Pierce Fansite

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Levithan, David (2005). Boy Meets Boy. New York, New York: Knopf Books. 

ISBN: 9780375832994

192 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Gender, Sexuality, Relationships, High School, Tolerance

Reader's Annotation

In an idealized high school where sexuality is not considered an issue, Paul, a sophomore, believes he has found love with Noah, but he makes a mistake that may cost him his relationship

Summary

Paul is a high school sophomore whose school is in an idealized world where cliques, gender, and sexuality have a completely different meaning. Although parents and adults have different views, the teens in this world don't see each other in typical gay/straight, jock/nerd, popular/unpopular dichotomies. Rather, they live in a world where everything has blended and people are simply judged for themselves, rather than any labels society might place on them. Paul thinks he has found love in the form of Noah, but he ends up making a mistake that might mean the end of their relationship, so he seeks counsel among his friends. Not everything is ideal in this high school world- there are still domineering boyfriends, conservative parents, and the typical problems of lovelorn teenagers that hint at an underlying darkness to the teen world without ever collapsing under the weight of its problems. 

Notes

Although this novel notably presents a fictional world, it will leave teens wondering why tolerance isn't this simple, and why the world is so categorical and unforgiving in its definitions of relationships, gender, and sexuality. By cutting through these issues, individual characters are able to shine, and the strength of their problems comes through in this well-crafted story of love, life, and high school. 

Awards

Booklist Starred Review

School Library Journal Starred Review

2003 Lambda Literary Award

Other Information

Fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (book or movie) might recognize David Levithan's humorous style and interesting take on love and life. 

Author Information

David Levithan's Website

Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess

Burgess, Melvin (2005). Bloodsong. London, England: Andersen Press Ltd. 

ISBN: 9781416936169

384 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Myth, Relationships, War, Heroism, Betrayal, Dystopia, 

Reader's Annotation

In future war-ravaged Britain where machines inhabit the same world as human-animal hybrids, 15-year-old Sigurd must claim his royal lineage and accomplish a series of impossible tasks- but will that be enough? 

Summary

In future Britain, a post-apocalyptic landscape reveals that the future has been anything but sweet. This story, part science fiction and part fantasy, weaves the tale of the lives and deaths of 15-year-old Sigurd. In this world, there are machines as well as animal-human hybrids, terrifying warlords, incredible technology used for destruction, and hideous beasts that present danger at every turn. After Sigurd is sent on a suicide mission, he then must pass a series of impossible tasks that force him to prove his courage, intelligence, and ingenuity as he passes into the underworld and must find his way to the throne with his heart and body intact. It is filled with violence and drama, but it is gripping nonetheless. 

Notes

Although this is a sequel to Burgess' Bloodtide (2001), it can easily stand alone. It has a strong narration, and although it can be somewhat dark at times, it is realistic enough that readers will find themselves wondering if a world such as this might be looming in the future as technology advances. Readers may also enjoy the links to Viking mythology. Because of the violence and graphic descriptions of war, only those capable of stomaching such material should venture into this novel, but any who do will be rewarded with a rich, engaging story. 

Author Information

Melvin Burgess' Website

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Johnson, Maureen (2006). 13 Little Blue Envelopes. New York, New York: HarperTeen. 

ISBN: 9780060541439

352 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Death, Family, Europe, Travel, Grief, Mystery, Identity

Reader's Annotation

17-year-old Ginny receives letters with instructions from her late aunt Peg that lead her on a wild adventure across Europe that help her understand her aunt a little more and allow her to find more about herself in the process. 

Summary

Ginny is a 17-year-old who has always lived a peaceful life in New Jersey, content to let her aunt be the adventurous one in the family. Her artistic aunt Peg, known to disappear for lengthy periods of time, does so in Europe, but after three years, Ginny receives a call that reveals that her aunt died of brain cancer. Before she died, however, she planned one more adventure- but for Ginny, not for herself. Ginny receives a plane ticket and a thousand dollars and instructions limiting what she can take with her and how she must conduct herself on this adventure of her life that has her forging connections with strangers across the continent, learning more about her aunt, and finding out more about who she is. 

Notes

This theme of letter after the grave might resonate with teens who happened to catch P.S. I Love You (either book or movie), in that the letters encourage the protagonist to find herself after the death of a loved one. 

Awards

ALA Teens' Top Ten 2006

ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2005

New York Public Library "Best Books for the Teen Age 2006"

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2005

Fall 2005 Book Sense Pick

International Reading Association Young Adults' Choices 2007

Other Information

Girls will likely find this book easier to jump into because it is strong with female characters and it has a strong female voice. Anyone who has ever wanted to experience adventure and to pick up and go, however, will relate to this tale of travel, adventure, and love. 

Author Information

Maureen Johnson's Website

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Gruen, Sara (2007). Water for Elephants: A Novel. New York, New York: Algonquin Books. 

ISBN: 9781565125605

350 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 17-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Circus, Relationships, 

Reader's Annotation

90- or 93-year-old Jacob Jankowski tells this story of his incredible adventures with the Benzini Brothers Circus and his adventures through the Depression, his care for teh circus animals, and his misadventures with love in a narrative flashback that skips back and forth across time. 

Summary

At the beginning of this story, Jacob Jakowski is an assisted living home and he is reflecting on his adventurous days with the Benzini Brother Circus. He skips back and forth between the Depression Era and the present and his complaints of his failing body and his slow reveal of the secrets of the past is equally gripping and heartbreaking. As a young man, after the death of his parents,  he dropped out of veterinary school at Cornell and began working for the circus. He explores his close relationship with the animals there, in particular Rosie, an elephant that almost seems human, and in this process, exposes the cruelty at the circus for humans and animals as well as the emotional heart of the novel. 

Notes

This story can be dark at times, and it is a book written primarily for an adult audience, so it has been recommended primarily for older teens and those with the emotional maturity to handle graphic descriptions of animal cruelty and physical relationships. 

Other Information

Readers may enjoy exploring Gruen's other books, Riding Lessons, Flying Chances, and coming in spring 2009, Ape House. These also explore close relationships between humans and animals, and Riding Lessons, in particular, has a gripping story of an equestrienne's relationship with horses and a past she must contend with as her father lays dying. 

Author Information

Sara Gruen's Website

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Koontz, Dean (2006). Odd Thomas. New York, New York: Bantam Books. 

ISBN: 9780553384284

400 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Mystery

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Relationships, Death, Crime, Mystery, Investigation

Reader's Annotation

20-year-old Odd Thomas lives a fairly normal life in Pico Mundo, California, with little ambition and little special about him- except for the fact that he sees and converses with ghosts, a talent that draws him into a mysterious event that will happen in his town unless he can prevent it in time.

Summary

This is a book that skips along at a swift pace, with enough character description for readers to feel like they are at home in Pico Mundo, California and enough mystery to keep them turning pages. It tells the story of Odd Thomas, a 20-year-old fry cook who has no ambition and little talent, except for writing, but he can't put pen to paper long enough to finish a project. His one unique gift- one that makes him truly odd- is his ability to see and converse with ghosts, and through this and his relationship with the beautiful Chief of Police, solve crimes. He also sees "bodachs", which are small, evil creatures that feed on carnage, and when he spots these gathering around one man in particular, he realizes that something horrific might be about to happen in his hometown. As he explores further, it becomes a race against time as he attempts to avert disaster and avoid detection and save the town. 

Other Information

Koontz has an impressive list of thrillers that will keep readers guessing and turning pages. If you enjoyed Odd Thomas, check out others by Dean Koontz. 

Author Information

Dean Koontz's Website

Odd Thomas Website

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean (1998). Fallen Angels. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780545055768

336 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: War, Vietnam, Relationships, Friendship, Death, Grief

Reader's Annotation

Richard Perry sets aside his dreams of college and a writing career and enlists in the army to get out of Harlem and support his family and finds himself in Vietnam, facing the horrors of war, violence, death, and questions about racism and virtue, good and evil in a war that means so little to him. 

Summary

This book is set in Vietnam in the late 1960s, where Richard Perry, a Harlem teenager, finds himself after his dreams of college fall through. He is the sole supporter of his family, and even though he could have gotten out of the draft with a medical condition, he enlists to uphold his obligation to them. As he and his comrades face the horrors of war and the basest levels of human existence, Richard is able to contemplate meaningful life questions about the nature of good and evil, and how to find virtue in soldiers trained to kill without question. As the war continues, he starts to realize the disturbing trend that black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and he seeks to understand what the US is doing there in the first place. 

Notes

Richard Perry is a skilled narrative guide throught the trenches of Vietnam. Although it can be graphic and difficult to read at times, the sensitive narrator will draw readers in as he questions the fundamental basis of society and war. These questions that he asks are the same that readers will have, and his exploration of these topics is poignant and sincere and make this book readable in spite of the horror. 

Awards

1989 Correta Scott King Award

Author Information

Walter Dean Myers' Website

Feed by M.T. Anderson

Anderson, M.T. (2004). Feed. New York, New York: Candlewick Press. 

ISBN: 978073622596

320 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Future, Dystopia, Brain-Washing, Family, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

In a bleak future, televisions and computers are connected directly to people's brains, creating a consumer-driven society where independent thought is frowned upon, and Titus never questions this world until he meets Violet, a home-schooled girl who dares to think for herself. 

Summary

Everything is just fine in Titus' world. He has an Internet/Television feed that connects directly to his brain and life is simple. It is a world of consumerism with the main priorities of fashion, immediate pleasures, and shopping. When Titus and his friends are on the moon, they catch an illness that freezes their feeds for a few days, and in the void, they actually think. It is there that Titus meets Violet, a home-schooled girl who has an opinion and thinks for herself. After their recovery, Violet and Titus begin dating but the fundamental differences between them and their world views drive them apart as the consumer-driven society pushes itself to the brink and Violet succumbs to an illness that leaves her incapacitatated. 

Notes

This is a great read for teens, especially older teens. It is a chilling novel that has taken threads of our current society and fleshed them out to show what the world would be like if these disturbing trends continued. Teens who read this may reconsider how connected their lives are and should be, and what repercussions that might have in the future. 

Awards

2002 National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist

2003 Boston-Globe Horn Book Award for Fiction

2003 Golden Duck Awards Hal Clement Award for Young Adults

Other Information

Readers who enjoy the topic might want to explore Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy. 

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 1)

Patterson, James (2007). The Angel Experiment. New York, New York: Little, Brown Young Readers. 

ISBN: 9780316067959

404 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: New York, Science Fiction, Mutation, Surgery, Identity

Reader's Annotation

14-year-old Max is one of a group of genetically enhanced children with unique talents  on the run from predators called Erasers who seek to destroy any evidence of their existence, but how long will they be able to evade these hunters? 

Summary

When a group of genetically enhanced children escape from a lab with the help of a scientist sympathetic to their cause, they are immediately hunted by a group of predators that are part-human, part-wolf and completely dangerous called Erasers. The Erasers need to catch and return these mutants before the world can find out that they exist. When Angel, a six-year-old, is captured, the other members of her "family" must help rescue her even as they learn more about their pasts and why they were created. 

Notes

Readers might recognize James Patterson as the author of the Alex Cross books, starting with Along Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls, both of which were also made into movies. Readers who enjoyed this book might enjoy those mystery thrillers, but they should check out the other books in this series: School's Out-Forever, Saving the World, and The Final Warning. 

Author Information

James Patterson's Website

School's Out- Forever by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 2)

Patterson, James (2007). School's Out- Forever. New York, New York: Vision Press. 

ISBN: 9780446618892

368 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: New York, Mutation, Surgery, Science Fiction, Identity

Reader's Annotation

When genetic mutant Fang is injured in a battle against part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers, his "family" must take him to the hospital, but his strange DNA leads them to contact the FBI, and for the first time, Max and her friends experience what it might be like to live a normal human life, but how long can it last?

Summary

Max is one of a group of genetically mutated children who escaped from a lab and have been on the run ever since. They are in a battle with part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers that want to bring them back to the lab they left or otherwise exterminate them. When one of the group, Fang, is injured so seriously that he must be taken to the hospital, doctors immediately notice anomalies and contact the FBI. The lead agent, Anne Walker, takes them to her Virginia farm home where, for the first time, they manage to lead normal lives, but when they start to try to seek their birth parents, they begin to realize that Anne might not have been entirely upfront about who she is and why she has taken them to her farm. 

Notes

Readers might recognize James Patterson as the author of the Alex Cross books, starting withAlong Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls, both of which were also made into movies. Readers who enjoyed this book might enjoy those mystery thrillers, but they should check out the other books in this series: The Angel Experiment, Saving the World, and The Final Warning. 

Author Information

James Patterson's Website

Saving the World by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 3)

Patterson, James (2007). Saving the World. New York, New York: Little, Brown Young Readers.

ISBN: 9780316155608

416 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: New York, Mutation, Identity, Rebellion

Reader's Annotation

Max and her "Flock" have returned to face their ultimate enemy and destroy their creators before they themselves are destroyed, and in the process, save the world from a eugenics plot- but will they succeed? 

Summary

14-year-old Max has returned with her friends in the 3rd book in this series. Now that they have discovered more about who created them and why, the time has come for action. It turns out that it has been decided by their creators that they must be exterminated, but if that happens, then the world as a whole may fall subject to a plot to re-engineer parts of the population and create a superior master race and terminate the rest. With their creators more determined than ever, the group is weak, forced to hide and separated, so this novel begs the question of how they can possibly hope to succeed against such incredible odds. 

Notes

Readers might recognize James Patterson as the author of the Alex Cross books, starting withAlong Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls, both of which were also made into movies. Readers who enjoyed this book might enjoy those mystery thrillers, but they should check out the other books in this series: The Angel Experiment, School's Out-Forever, and The Final Warning. 

Author Information

James Patterson's Website

The Final Warning by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 4)

Patterson, James (2008). The Final Warning. New York, New York: Little, Brown, and Company

ISBN: 9780316002868

272 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Mutation, Identity, Rebellion, Science Fiction

Reader's Annotation

This final book (?) in the series finds Max and her friends hiding in Antarctica where they take refuge with a team of environmentalists studying the effects of global warning, and they must battle against corrupt governments, biengineered villains, and nature to survive. 

Summary

Max and her group of genetically mutated friends have sought refuge from predators, governments, and anyone else in Antarctica. There, they find refuge with a team of environmentalists, but surviving in the harsh conditions and staying off the grid is a lot more difficult than it originally seemed, and it isn't long before the adventure picks up again. 

Notes

Readers might recognize James Patterson as the author of the Alex Cross books, starting withAlong Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls, both of which were also made into movies. Readers who enjoyed this book might enjoy those mystery thrillers, but they should check out the other books in this series: The Angel Experiment, School's Out-Forever, and Saving the World. 

Author Information

James Patterson's Website

How They Met, and Other Stories by David Levithan

Levithan, David (2008). How They Met, and Other Stories. New York, New York: Knopf Books. 

ISBN: 9780375848865

256 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Anthology

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Sexuality, Love, Families, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

This is an anthology of 18 stories about life and love, spanning the spectrum of emotion and types of love, and ultimately asking the question: what is love? 

Summary

This book contains 18 short stories about all kinds of love- from guy/girl to guy/guy, and everything in between. It examines the types of love between families, friends, and lovers even as it offers hope to those seeking love. It dives into stories about fix-ups (Starbucks Boy), love triangles (The Princes), and strangers meeting (The Number of People who Meet on Airplanes), among others. Each one is hopeful, endearing, and although they are unrelated, they all share the common thread of being about love. 

Notes

This book presents a collection of easily readable stories- this is ideal for teens on the go who are unable to commit to a lengthy story. Instead, they can dive in where and when they please, and they are guaranteed to emerge from this book a little more optimistic about love and life. 

Other Information

Fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (book or movie) might recognize David Levithan's humorous style and interesting take on love and life. They may also enjoy taking a look at Levithan's Boy Meets Boy. 

Author Information

David Levithan's Website

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, Laurie Halse (2006). Prom. New York, New York: Puffin. 

ISBN: 9780142405703

224 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Chick-Lit

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Prom, High School, Relationships, Identity

Reader's Annotation

Ashley is a high school senior who doesn't care about school or prom until the new math teacher steals the prom money and Ashley finds herself trying to save prom so her best friend will have the night she always wanted. 

Summary

Ashley is a normal high school senior who can't wait to finish school (if she manages to graduate), move into an apartment with her boyfriend TJ, and start real life. She doesn't care about school functions, and declares that she couldn't care less about prom. When the new math teacher makes off with the prom money, however, Ashley's best friend Natalia drags her on to the prom committee. Ashley realizes she's capable of more than she thought as she manages to save prom for herself, her best friend, and she creates a night she'll never forget. 

Notes

This is notably lighter than either Twisted or Speak, but it still has strong characters that make this book utterly readable and enjoyable. Girls will likely relate to it more because it is told from a female's point of view. 

Author Information

Laurie Halse Anderson's Website

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, Stephenie (2006). New Moon. New York, New York: Little, Brown and Company. 

ISBN: 9780316024969

608 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Vampires, Werewolves, High School, Desertion, Relationships, Family

Reader's Annotation

Isabella "Bella" Swan deals with the repercussions of her interactions with another group of vampires with her father when Edward Cullen, her vampire boyfriend, leaves her and she must face high school alone. 

Summary

Shortly after this book begins, Bella finds herself in danger again by vampires. Edward Cullen, her vampire boyfriend, feels that it is his presence that has endangered her once again, so he leaves in an effort to remove any destructive presence in her life. This doesn't have the effect that he desired, as Bella seems to be a magnet for disaster. In his absence, Bella turns to her friend Jacob Black, who, as it turns out, is going through a lot of problems on his own caused by the presence of the vampires. As he undergoes a transformation and seems to be deserting her as well, Bella strives to find balance in her life and continues to face any danger head-on. 

Notes

The Bella and Edward story gets a twist when Edward leaves Bella. The strife and heartache at the center of this novel show Meyer's writing talent- she handles this very well, better than the lovey-dovey take on Bella and Edward's relationship. The conclusion is somewhat less satisfying, as it appears that all of the characters refuse to use any common sense- or verify facts before leaping to conclusions. Still, this is a quick read that has action and drama mixed together nicely. Readers will especially enjoy the growth (both literal and figurative) that Jacob Black undergoes through this novel as he asserts himself as a contender for Bella's heart. 

Awards

New York Times Bestseller

Other Information

The movie Twilight was a domestic and international success, and it looks like the sequel will be following in its cinematic footsteps. Currently slated for release in 2010, New Moon will keep stars Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson as Edward in this film. 

Author Information

www.stepheniemeyer.com

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, Stephenie (2007). Eclipse. New York, New York: Little, Brown, and Company. 

ISBN: 9780316160209

640 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Werewolves, Vampires, High School, Relationships, Family

Reader's Annotation

Isabella "Bella" Swan finds herself caught between Jacob Black, a werewolf and her best friend who wants to be something more, and Edward Cullen, a vampire who is the love of her life, as she fights for her life with them by her side. 

Summary

This is the third book of the Twilight Saga and it finds Bella dealing with the repercussions of Edward's departure in New Moon. In his absence, she had turned to Jacob Black, and she realizes that, although she doesn't love him in the same way she loves Edward, there is a strong bond between them that isn't likely to be shaken. Bella needs to determine where this leaves her relationship with Edward, since Jacob and Edward, as werewolf and vampire, are mortal enemies. In the meanwhile, Jacob is dealing with issues associated with being part of a pack, and readers get to see more of the wolves in this book.

Notes

This book is heavy on action and emotional drama. Bella is caught in a love triangle, and although she is hopeless as ever, the dynamic between Jacob and Edward allows Meyer to really have some fun with the writing. It's not always believable, but this is an enjoyable book nonetheless and quite possibly the strongest of the series. 

Awards

New York Times Bestseller

Other Information

After the success of Twilight the movie, it looks like the other books in the series may find their way into production as well. New Moon is tentatively listed for release in 2010, so Eclipse could be on its way, too. There is a listing for a film titled Eclipse on IMDB slated for release in 2012, but whether or not that refers to the Meyer book isn't clear: Eclipse, the movie

Author Information

www.stepheniemeyer.com

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, Stephenie (2006). Twilight. New York, New York: Little, Brown, and Company. 

ISBN: 9780316015844

544 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: High School, Vampires, Relationships, Family, Outcast

Reader's Annotation

Isabella "Bella" Swan moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington, where she must forge a relationship with her father, deal with a new high school and new people, and she discovers that the little town might be more interesting than she thought. 

Summary

Isabella "Bella" Swan moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington, leaving her erratic, harebrained mother free to travel with her husband, a minor-league baseball player. This finds her living in the cloudiest place in the continental United States with a relative stranger- her father, Charlie. Starting at a new high school, and armed with typical insecurities of a teenager, she faces life in Forks. While she struggles to adapt to life in Washington, she is immediately intrigued by the Cullen family- and specifically, Edward Cullen, a mysterious figure who seems to be repulsed by her presence. As she begins to learn more about him, she realizes that there may be more to him and his family than meets the eye- and she's dying to learn more. 

Notes

This book has a quick pace and a great introduction to the characters of Bella and Edward. The plot is pushed forward quickly, and although Bella can play the part of a damsel in distress a little too convincingly at times for modern young women to truly appreciate, this is a quick, enjoyable read. 

Awards

New York Times Editor's Choice

Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year

ALA "Top Ten Books for Young Adults" 

ALA "Top Ten Books for Reluctant Readers"

New York Times Bestseller

Other Information

This was recently released as a movie starring Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson as Edward. Readers may enjoy discussing and debating the merits of the books compared to the movie. See the following for information about the movie: Twilight the Movie

Author Information

www.stepheniemeyer.com