Galley Review: The Ruby Notebook by Laura Resau

Zeeta, 16, has lived all over the world with her mom. This year it's France. Zeeta begins to receive mysterious notes and gifts from someone she calls her fantome, or ghost, admirer, just as her boyfriend Wendell arrives for a visit. She's not sure of her feelings for Wendell now, and just when she begins to draw away, they are forced together on a dangerous adventure. They are searching for an underground spring whose water is rumored to bring immortality. They begin to reconsider their own desires and beliefs about true love. And just as Zeeta's mind is clearing, she's confronted with the biggest shock of all, the incredible true identity of her fantome.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The book really connected with me. It made me feel confident about my future. I really enjoyed this book and hope there is a sequel."--Nichole B.

"I like how Wendell and Zeeta took risks."--Brianna R.

Galley Review: I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Nine of us came here. We live among you, but we are not you. We have powers you dream of having. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books, but we are real. Our plan was to grow, become strong, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running and spending our lives in the shadows. But they know. They caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. They killed them all. I am Number Four. I am next.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This book is raw. I give it five stars."--Ismael Z.

"This book is a page turner. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day. Love the dragon versus monster fight scene. Please make a sequel!"--Eric H.

Galley Review: Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams

Can a boy named John Lennon (whose nickname is Beatle) find his destiny in a girl named Destiny McCartney? Beatle is healing from a stroke he had while smoking marijuana. His girlfriend, who just happens to be his sister's best friend, is helping him recover. Will he leave her for Destiny?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I loved how it tied in with The Beatles, but I can give it only a three out of five stars."--Maya E.

"Beatle and Destiny are such real characters. I felt myself sucked into their world."--Liane Y.

Galley Review: Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

In zombie-invested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn 15 or have their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job, but what he gets is a job that will teach him what it means to be human.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"Please make a sequel! This was a page turner."--Eric H.

"I would recommend this book to anyone. It made me feel that I was there."--Chris L.

"You should really read this book if you like zombies. This book teaches you that you should treat even dead people with respect."--Marcos F.

Galley Review: Other by Karen Kincy

Gwen Williams is like any other modern teenager with one exception: She's a shapeshifter and she's struggling with the wild, wonderful magic inside of her alone and in secret. While society may tolerate vampires, centaurs, and "Others" like Gwen, there are plenty of folks in Klikamuks, Washington, who don't care for her kind. Now there's a new werewolf pack in town, and Others are getting killed. Can Gwen find the courage to embrace her true self and find the killer--before she becomes the next victim.

What SL teens are saying about this book...

"I wish the book had been more subtle. I was disappointed by the fact that I was able to figure out who the killer was from the moment he was introduced."--Jenny L.

"This book was lots of fun. It was an easy read, and the characters' voices were each distinct and believable. Another thing that made this book interesting is that it's not using vampires and werewolves, which are obvious choices. Instead it focuses on relatively obscure magical creatures, like the Pooka."--Claudia N.

Galley Review: Beat the Band by Don Calame

In this hilarious sequel to Swim the Fly the boys are back for their sophomore year in a story told from Coop's perspective. In their health class students must work in pairs on a semester-long projects. Matt and Sean get partnered up (the jerks!) and Coop gets paired with the infamous "Hot Dog" Helen for a presentation on safe sex. Everybody's laughing, except for Coop, who's convinced that the only way to escape this social death sentence is to win "The Battle of the Bands" with their group. There's just one problem; none of the guys actually plays an instrument.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"It was absolutely hilarious, just like Swim the Fly. Keep writing these books! I gave it a 5 out of 5 and nominated it for Teens Top Ten."--Eric H.

"This book is funny. Once you start reading you're hooked. Though I thought Swim the Fly was funnier. I gave it a 4 out of 5."--Christopher L.

Galley Review: Brain Jack by Brian Falkner

Las Vegas is gone--destroyed in a terrorist attack. Black hawk helicopters patrol the skies over New York City. Immersive online gaming is the most dangerous street drug around. In this dystopic future, technology has leapt forward once again, and neuro-headsets have replaced computer keyboards. Just slip on a headset, and it's the Internet at the speed of thought. For teen hacker Sam Wilson, a headset is a must. But as he becomes more familiar with the new technology, he has a terrifying realization. If anything on his computer is vulnerable to a hack, what happens when his mind is linked to the system?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This was such a good book that I read it in four hours. It kept me reading with all the action and suspence. I also read Falkner's "Tomorrow Code" and that was a good book too. I hope he keeps writing!"--Eric H.

"Written from the hacker's point of view, this is an interesting book for people into geeky stuff. The in-depth description of hacking was especially compelling."--Clay F.

Galley Review: Crash Test Love by Ted Michael

The last thing Henry Arlington wants is a girlfriend. He's just very, very good with girls. Garrett thinks she's done with guys. She was dumped by her ex and now she realizes she needs to find out who she is by herself, instead of with a boyfriend. But if Garrett wants to get in the best clique at her new high school, she has to get Henry to take her on a date and then dump him in front of everyone. Garrett has promised herself not to fall for another guy, so playing with Henry's heart shouldn't be hard, right? And Henry doesn't fall for girls. so when he and Garrett start to click, it doesn't matter. Does it?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"This book is very relatable and not like other romance books." --Brianna R.

"This is the classic story of boy meets girl, but with a twist." --Liane Y.

Galley Review: 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

Everything about Jessie Gillmansen's life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But while showing a hot new guy around Junction High, she's about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova ia more than good looks and a fascinating accent--he's a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existense is sure to bring trouble to Jessie's small town. It seems change is one thing Jessie cannot avoid.


What SL teens are saying about the book...

"It was too focused on the romance which seemed nothing but ordinary. There should be more of a draw between the two characters. There was too much teen drama, but not the kind that holds a reader's interest."--Katie F.

"Most books right now talk about vampires, but this book is about another type of monster, and how they can fall in love too."--Stephanie V.

Galley Review: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they've both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But Bet's education is contained within the walls of the house and is limited. While Will is forced to go to school. So Bet convinces Will to switch places; she'll go to school to live as a boy, and he'll stay home where he prefers to be.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The conversations between Bet and Will are amusing. The dilemma Bet faces of having to be both Bet and Will at times also was funny. But the book felt rushed. And the big plot twist was obvious from the beginning and did not elicit the right reactions from the other characters."--Hanah K.

"It was slightly typical. I could see where it was going from the beginning. There was not enough suspense; everything went too smoothly. I wanted more thrill. The most compelling aspect was a look at cross dressing in the 1800s!"--Stephanie L.

Book Review: Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins latest book written in verse is about five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives the best they can, but all searching...for freedom, safety, community, familiy, love. What they don't expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words "I love you" are said for all the wrong reasons.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The book has smooth story lines and teaches you about many different lifestyles--all tied together by drug use."--Deja P.

"I love Hopkin's writing style--it is moving and poetic and all the stories are compelling. I sometimes wish she wouldn't be so cynical, but then again, that's probably her appeal."--Sonia R.

Galley Review: Wereling by Steve Feasey

A teenage boy's ordinary life is wrenched apart when he discovers that he is the last hereditary werewolf and that the most evil bloodthirsty vampire known to the netherworld wants him dead.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The story was intense, dramatic, and action-filled. My only disappointment is that it went by kind of fast."--Jessica P.

"I like the details about werewolves that the author uses. I also like the use of all types of monsters and demons and how the author didn't just have two types of monsters like most other YA fantasy books."--Jenny L.

Galley Review: A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane

Young wizards Kit Rodriguez and Nita Callahan are part of an elite team investigating the mysterious "message in a bottle" that holds clues to the long-lost inhabitants of Mars. But not even wizardry is enough to cope with the strange events that unfold when the "bottle" is uncorked and life emerges once more to shake the Red Planet with its own perilous and baffling brand of magic.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The book is an epic tale of wizardry, fantasy, romance (sort of), and unforgettable characters. You can really vizualize the scenes. It's almost as if the wizardry in the book is leaping off the page."--Zachary D.

"I have enjoyed books by this author in the past, including books in this series. I was expecting a certain level of quality that wasn't met. The series started out primarily with the female main character's perspective with a strong female cast, then slowly changed to mostly using the male character's perspective, in which he thinks about sexy girls in short skirts. I'm not even kidding. I am not impressed."--Claudia N.

Book Review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

In a vast prison called Incarceron, 17-year-old prisoner Finn plots his escape, even though few prisoners believe that there is an Outside. Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia, who claims to be the daughter of Incarceron's warden and lives Outside. Doomed to an arranged marriage, Claudia believes she can help Finn escape. But there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye and escape will take their greatest courage.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The book was engrossing and well-paced. The clues were revealed with excellent timing. It didn't have any real romance, which was nice. Finn's story was particularly compelling because it was darker."--Sonia R.

"Fisher's writing in this is a little vague and the jumping around between the two characters makes this plot hard to follow. I really wanted to love this book, but it just left an okay impression in my mind. This is a good read for fantasy/sci-fi lovers who can follow a somewhat complex plot and wouldn't mind a few deviations from the story that take time to explain,"--Jenny L.

Gallery Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

High school sophomore Nora Grey, a dedicated student striving for a college scholarship, lives with her widowed mother in a country farmhouse outside Portland, ME. When Patch, her new biology partner, is suddenly thrust into her life, Nora is both attracted to his charm and put off by his inexplicable awareness of her thoughts. Eventually, she learns that he is a fallen angel who wants to become human. She is susceptible to his control, but other forces are at work as well, and Nora finds herself caught in the middle of dangerous situations and unexplainable events.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The book takes off right away, leaving no boring moment what-so-ever. As it comes to a close, a sudden chase and unexpected enemy propels the book into a whole different story. This book changes quickly, beware of its various twists."--Stephanie L.

"I really liked Patch, he is like the bad boy of every good girl's dream. Hush, Hush is quite similar to a lot of other romantic young adult books these days, but the fact that it's a fallen angel...made it a tad more interesting than the rest."--Jenny L.

"Hot guys with wings? Straight up my alley! Wonderful? Yes!"--Kathleen K.

Gallery Review: Happyface by Stephen Emond

Enter Happyface's journal and get a peek into the life of a shy, artistic boy who decides to reinvent himself as a happy-go-lucky guy after he moves to a new town. See the world through his hilariously self-deprecating eyes as he learn to shed his comic-book-loving, computer-game playing ways. Join him as he makes new friends, tries to hide from his past, and ultimately learns to face the world with a genuine smile. With a fresh and funny combination of text and fully integrated art, Happyface is an original storytelling experience.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"I wasn't expecting Happyface to be the character that he was. The plot was a tad dark, but Happyface's honest perspective helps make it lighter. I really like the way the story was laid out, with some journal entries hinting at the dark past of Happyface in the beginning, and then receiving the full story in the middle, and how he dealt with it afterwards. Happyface is an enjoyable book that has the theme of - be yourself and not someone else - a problem that many teens are dealing with."--Jenny L.

"It can relate to teens because it is about a teen who struggles in life. No one has a perfect life."
--Joshua T.

Galley Review: Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon--the only place on earth where the everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment she sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she's not an ordinary girl. She's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The relationships and personalities of the characters are very developed and entertaining."--Jessica P.

"Not a typical supernatural book. No vampires and wizards! It's filled with faeries who aren't dainty in the slightest. Very entertaining."--Belle Y.

Book Review: By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a web site for "completers" and blogs about her life, revealing a history of bullying. Then a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school, even though she's made it clear she wants to be left alone. It's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life...isn't it?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The countdown (to her suicide) made me nervous. I kept thinking to myself, 'X amount of days left. Will she change her mind?' I thought the book was good and read it in 3 hours."-- Simone F.

"It's a great book, especially for those who get teased, that has an important message about suicide."--Victoria M.

"I like the fact that loves comes unexpectedly in this book. But overall it seems lower quality than her other books."--Lucia Z.

"The book lets the reader get deep into the mind of a suicidal person. It shows you that it's not all about self-pity to them; it's about much, much more."--Jessica P.

Gallery Review: Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer

Things have taken a darker turn for the half-human teenager with an appetite for blood. Joss, a vampire slayer and Vlad's former friend, has moved back to Bathory. A mysterious and powerful new vampire, Dorian, appears with a shocking secret and an overwhelming desire to drink Vlad's blood. And Vlad's arch enemy, D-Ablo, has a sinister plan to eliminate Vlad once and for all. With death threatening from every angle, Vlad will have to use every ounce of his skill and training to survive, but nothing can prepare him for what awaits him in the end.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"Brewer does a great job of showing the angst and conflicts of a teenage vampire, as well as the inner and external battles he has to deal with." -- Jenny L.

"It has the best ending possible! The best Vladimir Tod book yet!" -- Martin G.

Gallery Review: The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one - not even Julia's boyfriend - knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can't mourn Julia openly, and he's tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia's journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he's desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The plot moves along nicely and I liked each characters involvement making the story united." -- Joanna Q.

"The book is written from a teenage boy's perspective, and the voice is similar to that of a real teen. It was great!" -- Lucia Z.

Gallery Review: The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

Natalie Hargrove would kill to be her high school's Palmetto Princess. But her boyfriend Mike King doesn't share her dream and risks losing the honor of Palmetto Prince to Natalie's nemesis, Justin Balmer. So she convinces Mike to help play a prank on Justin... one that goes terribly wrong. They tie him to the front of the church after a party--when they arrive the next morning, Justin is dead.

From blackmail to buried desire, dark secrets to darker deeds, Natalie unravels. She never should have messed with fate. Fate is the one thing more twisted than Natalie Hargrove.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The characters are fascinating with their complicated bad sides."--Angelica P.

"There is good character development, and it was a good book with detailed conflicts that were intriguing."--Sandra L.

Gallery Review: The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott

Spoiled, beautiful fourteen-year-old Eugenie de Boncoeur is accustomed to outrageous privilege. The French Revolution may rage around her, but Eugenie's luxurious lifestyle is only improved by visits from her brother, Armand, especially doting since the two were orphaned. What Eugenie doesn't know is that their guardian has promised her in marriage to the wealthy, vengeful Le Fantome, a revolutionary nursing a secret grudge against her family. As the Revolution becomes increasingly violent, Eugenie is shipped off to convent school. Finally, there is no place in France that is safe for her. Eugenie dusts off her lightly used brains and rises to the challenge of survival; and soon she is in the thick of turmoil and romance, confronting spies, secret agents, and double-crossing suitors in her quest to get out of France alive.

What SL teens are saying about the book...

"The time period it was set in was beautifully and accurately described, but it would be better if the plot ran faster... add a little more action..."-- Stephanie L.

"... Seems too hoity-toity and fashioned concerned in the beginning..."-- Kathleen K.

"... It had a great plot but it left me feeling winded at the end..."--Julie H.