The Hollow People, by Brian Keany

isbn: 978-0375843327

I have wanted to read this one for a while, and I was not disapointed. Apart from a very Matrix 2/Pirates 2 ending, this book is very nearly perfect. The world around the two characters is well thought out, the scary big brother-ness is just subtle enough that you could mistake it for misery, and Dante and Bea, the main characters, are lovely and real. I cannot wait till the next one, which aparently comes our in December 08. Arg!

4/5

Wicked Lovely, by Melissa Marr

isbn: 0061214671

I have been looking at this one for a while, and finally took it out at the library. I am really torn. On one side, I really wish it hadn't ended so damn well. Ugh. I think boy A should go with girl B. Oooooh. Of course! On the other hand, I did really really want to finish it. Ate it up in two days (on the bus and at lunch). Honestly the second part looks better, but I can't figure out how it will work at all. Hmmm.

3/5

Operation Red Jericho, by Joshua Mowll

isbn: 0763626341

I just ate this up. It is the story of two (probably) orphans fighting Chinese pirates and trying to protect the world from quasi-nuclear doom. Although the orphan + secret society is a little worn, the book makes it fresh with fantastically realistic reporting techniques, diagrams, inserts, notes on chemistry... I had tons of fun devouring this. Perfect for curious 9-12 youth.

4/5

Fire Study, by Maria V Snyder

isbn: 0778325342

This is the third book in the series that started with Poison Study. I find it interesting/annoying that the books follow each other within a week or so. Her entire story is told in the books, with nothing happening off page. This is fun, but also a bit tedious. I feel the first chapter could have been cut out.

Still, the twists in this one are fantastic, and the evil things the bad guys do is so damn evil that by the time you realise what has happened you really really want to finish it. I had about 10 pages when I started by shift and I just wanted to die. :)

3/5

Hellboy: Unnatural Selection, by Tim Lebbon

isbn: 9781416507833

I wanted to read something fun after reading that semi-serious teen fiction last month. This was pretty entertaining, felt like the comics and movie feel, kinda silly and full of one liners. Unfortunately, most of the oneliners were things used in the comics, so it felt like Hellboy was always going to be sore in the morning. I think they used it twice. Still, the story fun.

2/5

The Compound, by S.A. Bodeen

isbn: 0312370156

I read this in one afternoon and got annoyed at someone who tried to have a conversation with me while I read it. I had to finish it. The book is paced extremely well and feels like the first big hill on a rollercoaster. The description of the food they can no longer have was ridiculously good, making me hungry for things I didn't even know I craved. The end was a bit weak, though not in a strictly bad sense. I think it was maybe a bit sudden for the speed I was going at.

4/5

Prom Dates From Hell, by Rosemary Clement-Moore

isbn: 978-0385734134

This book was actually very clever, and sped up at just the right moment in the plot to keep me interested. Mixing serious issues with magic, this is a brilliant teen book for people who want softcore fantasy and discussions about bullying and high school royalty. I devoured this in one day, and when I thought I knew what was going on, I got slapped in the face and liked it.

4/5