Galley Review: The Hollow by Jessica Verday

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleep Hollow Cemetery, everyone is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again. And just when Abbey thinks that she might suvive all this, she learns a secret about Kristen that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The cover caught my attention and I like how the author took "The Legend of Sleep Hollow" and changed it her way. But the book was slow paced."--Sandra L.

"Abbey is generous but also comes off as rude and whiney in the first chapter. I also didn't buy her relationship with Caspian. I felt there was a lack of plot."--Angelica P.

"The beginning was interesting and the very end was compelling. But the middle was repetitive. I did like how Abbey made perfumes; that's not something that's written about often."--Jennifer R.

Galley Review: Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

Beth has always been "The Beast"--that's what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and think glasses. Beth's only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she gets chosen to be her choir's soprano soloist and receives a makeover that will change her life. When Beth's choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek whose passion and love for her leave Beth breathless, because in Derek's eyes she's the Beauty, not the Beast. When Beth comes home, Scott makes a confession to her that leaves her torn. Derek or Scott? Will the secret that Derek is hiding from her make the decision for her?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"It keeps you wanting more until the end when all the pieces fit together. The only disappointing thing was that sometimes I couldn't tell who was speaking and had to go back and re-read the dialogue." --Andrea O. D.

"While Morrison's prose had me sobbing like a baby, I think this book needs more work. I was disappointed by the ending. --Nikki B.

Galley Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

This book imagines a different World War I waged between the German's Clankers (steam driven iron machines) and the British Darwinist's fabricated animals. The Leviathan is a whale airship, the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand is the prince of the Austro-Hungarian empire on the run from his own people. All he has are a Stormwalker and a crew of loyal men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She is constantly afraid of being discovered. Their paths cross in the most unexpected way taking them aboard the Leviathan for a fantastical, around-the-world journey that will change their lives forever.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"Extremely well written with an interesting plot. The Darwinist creations and the struggles between the characters are compelling."--Kathleen K.

"It makes you feel you are in another world. The most compelling aspects of the book are the machinery and the war."--Andre H.

Galley Review: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

The world is changing; the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now children are starting to disappear. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare. Wisty and Whit discover that they have incredible powers. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master themselves in time to save themselves, their parents, and even the world?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I liked the book, honestly. James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. But while I did enjoy the book, I feel the Maximum Ride series was better and this book could use a bit more work. The question of why they got captured is never fully answered. Is it supposed to be in the next book?"--Hanah K.

"The spells in this book surpass those in Harry Potter. It was like having all the super powers in the world stuck into two people."--Jenny L.

"I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but the powers that Wisty has like fire and shapeshifting are more offensive powers. Most of the time I find these powers in male characters. Whit had more passive powers like telekinesis, which are painfully common in female characters."--Claudia N.

Galley Review: Metamorphosis: Notebook, Junior Year by Betsy Franco

Ovid's got a lot on his mind, and he pours it all--as confessions, narrative poems, drawings, and observations--into the pages of a notebook. Inspired by his namesake, he wryly records his classmates' dramas as modern day Roman mythology. There's Sophie and Caleb, the Psyche and Cupid of cyber-couples, and poetic Paula who pursues Franny like Apollo chasing Daphne. Meanwhile Ovid hides his own struggles: his meth addict sister Thena has run off, leaving him with a suffocating home life and a disturbing secret.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I liked the idea of the book and the different forms of writing. I also thought it was very short and the ending was left hanging. I still had questions."--Joanna Q.

"I was disappointed because I expected more from the book, and I thought I would get more out of the story."--Richie H.

I really like how Franco twisted Roman mythology into a modern day high school drama. But I thought the ending needed more work. Everything just ended all of a sudden. It left a lot of questions unanswered, like what happened to the other characters."--Jenny L.

Book Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother calls "the touch," which comes in handy when you're travelling with your father hunting ghosts, suckers, wolfen, and zombies. When her dad turns up dead but still walking, Dru knows she is next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever is hunting her?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"A raw version of Twilight, minus the glitter. If you're interested in action, paranormal activity, and weird happenings, read this book!"--Belle Y.

"The book has complex characters and situations. The author has a great way of creating suspense that has your mind running wild."--Julie H.

"The characters were really believeable and have funny interactions. Most books about vampires and werewolves center on love and romance, so it was nice to find one that didn't emphasize those subjects too much."--Jenny L.

Galley Review: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

Alex Sawyer is convicted of a murder he didn't committ and sentenced to life without parole in the Furnace Penitentiary, the world's most secure prison for young offenders. He knows he has two choices: resign himself to death behind bars in darkness at the bottom of the world or find a way out. Together with other inmates--some innocent kids and some cold-blooded killers--Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about the Furnace's deeper, darker purpose, Alex's actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that is hidden from the eyes of the world.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"It pulls you along on a horrific journey while at the same time showing you that friendships can develop even in places where friendhsip isn't encouraged. The Furnace is described as a place that's worse than Hell, but the main character was able to find something precious, even if he makes choices that aren't the most moral. It shows that life has many facets."--Hanah K.

Galley Review: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan

Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who is a girl. One of them loves him; the other needs him. When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, he had no idea that the woman in the photo was the long-lost, meth-addicted mother of his friend Marissa. Blake's participation in the ensuing drama opens up a word of trouble, both for him and Marissa. He spends the next few months trying to reconcile the conflicting roles of friend and boyfriend. His experiences range from the comic to the tragic.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This book is told marvelously from a teen boy's point of view. It gives insight on what a guy really thinks and how he reacts to stressful situations. At times this book made me laugh. It takes a lot for a book to do that!"--Mariah S.

Galley Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

It is not a peaceful time in the dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and the south build rebel armies to unseat him. War is coming, and the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Exquisitely romantic, this is the prequel to the highly praised Graceling, a Teens Top Ten book for 2009.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I liked that the book was geared toward an older teen audience. It dealt with more serious themes such as the responsibility of pregnancy and the meaning of beauty. The political struggles also added adventure and mystery to the story."--Sonia R.

Galley Review: The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

Destiny Faraday keeps her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number-one rule: Don't get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three classmates take an unauthorized road trip. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny's unsuspecting companions hope will simply hold a day of fun. Only Destiny knows that Langdon holds far more than that--a deep secret she has never shared with anyone.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This book was not predictable and had me on the edge of my seat. I was just as surpised as the other characters."--Victoria B.

"This book has an astounding amount of suspense and surprise. It swallows you into a world of coincidences where only Destiny is allowed to guide you."--Stephanie L.

Galley Review: The Eternal Kiss: 13 Tales of Blood and Desire edited by Trisha Telep

Supernatural forces and desires come alive in these thirteen vampire tales. Like love, the adventures are never safe and hungers never die. If you are seduced by the mystery of the heart, beating for a destiny unknown, you will helplessly follow the characters in this collection--longing for one to call their own.

The book features short stories from well known authors such as Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, and Sarah Rees Brennan.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"Each story has a different perspective on vampirism and is written in a different style, which is really entertaining. This book makes you love vampires even more."--Sandra L.

"It was fun to see what different authors have in mind for what vampires are like." --Yena L.

Galley Review: Night Runner by Max Turner

For Zack Thomson, living in Nicholls Ward isn't so bad. After his parents died, he developed strange and severe allergies, and the mental institution was the only place where he could be properly looked after. As strange as it was, it was home. He could watch as much television as he wanted; his best friend Charlie visited him often enough; and Nurse Ophelia--the prettiest no-nonsense nurse ever--sometimes took him bowling. Of course, that didn't mean he had it easy. His allergies restricted his diet to strawberry smoothies, and being the only kid at the hospital could get lonely. But it never once crossed Zach's mind to leave...until the night someone crashed through the front doors and told him to run. Now he's on a race for answers---about his past, his parents, and his strange sickness--even as every step takes him closer to the darkest of truths.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I like how Turner includes all the traditional vampire ways. It's perfect for any present day Dracula fan." --Jenny L.

"The plot was corny and weird. The pacing was awkward at the end." --Shannon L.

Voice Your Choice and You Could Win a $25 Gift Card for Borders Books!

Teens across the country have nominated 25 books as the best of the year. We want you to help get the list down to the top ten--The Teens' Top Ten.

Look at the list of the Top 25 listed below. Then read, read, read. From August 25 to September 18, you can go to this web site: www.ala.org/teenstopten and vote for your favorites.

Print out the web page that thanks you for your vote. Write your name, phone number, and the titles of your picks on that page. Turn in that page to the children's desk to be entered in the raffle for the Borders Gift Card.

The winning books and the raffle winner will be announced at the end of Teen Read Week, October 24.

The Top 25 are...

Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee
Bloodline by Katy Moran
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Evermore by Alyson Noel
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
Geek Charming by Robin Palmer
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce
Paper Towns by John Green
Runemarks by Joanne Harris
Truancy by Isamu Fukui
Truancy: Origins by Isamu Fukui
Untamed by Kristin and P.C. Cast
Wake by Lisa McMann
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Book Review: Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott

Inside an ancient temple in the mountains, 15-year-old Zira trains in the martial arts to become a warrior princess who can defend the faith of the Ruan people. Bearing a scar on her face from the fire that killed her parents, the orphaned Zira is taught to distrust the occupying Sedornes. Terror strikes when the tyrannical Sedorne king destroys the only home she knows. To survive, Zira must unravel the secrets of her identity, decide her people's fate, and accept her growing feelings for a man who should be her enemy.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I read this book in one day! Throughout the book Zira must be mentally and physically strong, but when she needed to be soft, she could take her guard down in a minute." --Hannah D.

"Ruan seems so real I can picture the marketplace and the dirt road. I like the vivid descriptions of the setting, food, and clothes." -- Winifred C.

"It is an adventure from beginning to end. A magical setting that captures the attention of the reader from the very first page." --Ismael M.

Book Review: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

According to her best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie--she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I would nominate this book for Teens' Top Ten because it teaches people to move on with life even though something terrible happens." --Judy L.

"This book is touching and has a lot to say about what love is." --Sandra L.

"I couldn't put it down." --Winifred C.

Book Review: Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

The youngest of three siblings, 14-year-old Anke feels both relieved and neglected that her father abuses her brother and sister and ignores her. But when she catches him with one of her friends, she finally becomes angry enough to take action.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This book gives a glimpse of the reality many teenage girls face but are afraid to discuss. By having books available about touchy subjects, girls have a way to reach out without needing to confide in anyone. This is a powerfully written, thought provoking book." --Arielle C.

"Just the fact that I couldn't guess what would be on the next page made me want to continue reading." --Sam B.

Galley Review: Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

The book contains short stories from some of the best selling, most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Lisa Yee, Barry Lyga, Scott Westerfield, Cassandra Clare, and more! Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction and theater geeks. Whether you are a current, former or future geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This is a quick and easy read, with stories that are hard core geek."--David D.

"These are amusing little shorts, that made me laugh more often than not."--Hanah K.

"I especially enjoyed the little one page inserts like "What to Remember When Going to a Convention."--Lucy A.

Galley Review: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters. Or at least without questioning them much--if you don't count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with the boy she hopes to choose for herself. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her 60-year-old uncle--who already has six wives--Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"A realistic story about a young girl's dream to be independent."--Liane Y.

"After I finished I felt my heart ache from the burden of what Kyra was feeling."--Yena L.

Galley Review: Donut Days by Lara Zielin

Emma has a lot going on. Her best friend's not speaking to her, a boy she's known her whole life is suddenly smokin's hot and in love with her, and her evangelical minister parents may lose their church. But this weekend Emma's only focused on Crispy Dream, a new donut franchise opening in town, where Harlet bikers and Frodo wannabes camp out waiting to be the first ones served. While trying to earn a college scholarship by writing the best feature on the camp, Emma finds the donut camp isn't the perfect escape from all her troubles.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This book isn't cliche. It shows both the positive and negative aspects of people, and that some people don't change for the better."--Sable Y.

"I like how the author made the main character wrong too. Usually the main character is the innocent, right one."--Victoria D.

Galley Review: Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips...conks her head...and wakes up in the year 1815! There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spend time with Emily's family, Callie warms to them--particularly to Emily's cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant. But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex's heart, before her time in the past is up? Prada and Prejudice is a romantic comedy about finding friendship and love in the past in order to have happiness in the present.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The book transports you to a time that leaves you breathless with wonder. You want to enter the book and become part of the story because it is the ultimate fantasy." -- Julie H.

"There is romance and comedy, with a twist on a classic." --Benfie L.