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.