Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Pages: 233

Intended Audience: Teens and Mature Tweens

Genre: Mystery

Notes for parents: Some language and mature scenes

The Inside Cover

The small town of Cryer’s Cross is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn’t that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain.

When a second student goes missing—someone close to Kendall’s heart—the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall’s not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she’s losing her grip on reality.

But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school—messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there—Kendall decides that crazy or not, she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t act on her suspicions. Something’s not right in Cryer’s Cross—and Kendall’s about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

What the Inside Cover doesn’t tell you:

Once again, this was a cover that told too much. All it’s missing is the end!

What’s good?

Short chapters kept this story moving quickly. The suspense starts immediately with the first line of Chapter One: “Everything changes when Tiffany Quinn disappears.” I was drawn in right away and felt instantly invested in the mystery. The characters were well done and likeable. The writing was excellent. The plot was complex, with several twists and turns, and the subplot involving Kendall’s OCD was interesting.

Best part: Mr. Greenwood and Hector Morales

What’s not so good?

While the story is a good mystery, the plot itself is weak. I wasn’t satisfied with the way everything wrapped up. To be frank, after reading the last chapter, I literally threw my hands in the air and said, “Are you kidding me?” I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I was definitely expecting…more. I wish I could say more, but I don’t want to give away the mystery.

The relationship between Kendall and Jacian seemed unlikely for some reason – maybe because of Nico, or perhaps because Jacian was introduced as too angry and bitter to be friendly.

Also, the “We” chapters are incomprehensible until the end, and even then…

Worst part: “Everything inside her body melts. She is chocolate in his fist.” (pg 225). Sorry, but I laughed when I read it. It was a ridiculous visual.

Recommendations þþþoo

It’s a haunting tale, but was ultimately lacking in plot and resolution. It was a quick read and well written until the unsatisfying conclusion. However, other reviewers enjoyed the end, so I will recommend this book with the hope that those that pursue the endeavor of reading it will disagree with me.

McMann, Lisa. Cryer’s Cross. New York: Simon Pulse, 2011. (Hardcover)

Skinned by Robin Wasserman

Pages: 361

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Science fiction

Notes for Parents: Some mature scenes

The Back Cover

Lia Khan was perfect: rich, beautiful, popular—until the accident that nearly killer her. Now she has been downloaded into a new body that only looks human. Lia will never feel pain again, she will never age, and she can’t ever truly die. But she is also rejected by her friends, betrayed by her boyfriend, and alienated from her old life.

Forced to the fringes of society, Lia joins others like her. But they are looked at as freaks. They are hated…and feared. They are everything but human, and according to most people, this is the ultimate crime—for which they must pay the ultimate price.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in the Skinned trilogy. The trilogy was renamed the Cold Awakening series and the books—Skinned, Crashed, and Wired—were renamed Frozen, Shattered, and Torn.

What’s good?

What makes us human? Flesh? In Wasserman’s technology-obsessed society, modern medicine has discovered a way to download the human brain into a prosthetic body. Plausible? Absolutely! Lia’s struggle to adjust to her new self takes her on an emotional journey, during which she encounters a wonderfully developed cast of characters, some who accept her and some who don’t.

Many issues are touched upon within the story, including medical ethics, family, friendship, humanity, courage, acceptance, and even racism.

Best Part: The beginning and the end were beautifully done.

What isn’t good?

Lia is difficult to like through most of the novel. She’s whiney, self-centered, and often quite mean to the people around her. She lacks any kind of understanding about how her own situation might have impacted others. Luckily, she slowly transforms and becomes someone who, at the very least, is worthy of our sympathy by the end.

Also, the plot is a bit weak. The idea is good, but the bones of the story rest solely on Lia’s adjustment issues. A little more complexity would have made it more interesting.

Worst part: Lia is such a spoiled princess that her predicament seems like karma. A more likeable Lia would have made for a more sympathetic story.

Recommendation þþþoo

This was a good idea that fell just a little short. It didn’t help that I read The Adoration of Jenna Fox just before – it had a considerably better plot line, as well as some mystery! But ultimately, this is a good book. The characterization is strong and the subject matter is interesting. Recommended.

Wasserman, Robin. Skinned. New York: Simon Pulse, 2008.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Pages: 265

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: Science fiction, mystery

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma—so she’s been told—and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She’s been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won’t anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a trilogy.

What’s good?

Jenna’s memories unfold before her as she realizes she’s not the girl she was before the accident. Her journey of discovery brings up questions about medical ethics, nepotism, rich vs. poor, her parents’ choices, and her own humanity. As the mysteries are solved, there’s an underlying sense of suspense as the threat of her discovery lingers. The characters are likeable and interesting. The light romance between Jenna and Ethan doesn’t overshadow the seriousness of the main plot. The chapters are short and dotted with poetry, making this a fairly simple read.

Best Part: The premise.

What isn’t good?

The pace was slow. The story itself lacks any significant amounts of action or humour, and only a touch of romance, so it’s a fairly somber read as well. While I was fascinated with Jenna’s journey, I was annoyed by how self-centered she was, never really understanding the depth of her parents’ love and how much they risked to save her.

Worst part: The end brings all the debates to an abrupt conclusion. Had the author left it open-ended, it would have been much more powerful.

Recommendation þþþþo

This was a good book. It’s not quite on par with my other 4 checkmark books – this is more of a 3 and a half – but the premise, the plot, and the slowly unfolding mystery, precipitated many interesting debates in my mind and I felt quite satisfied by the end. I was surprised to hear this was a trilogy, because it really felt like the story was over. I haven’t read the other two, but I do recommend this one.

Pearson, Mary E. The Adoration of Jenna Fox. New York: Square Fish, 2007.

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Pages: 309

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: near-future dystopian

Notes for parents: Some coarse language and graphic scenes

The Inside Cover

When sixteen-year-old Kaelyn lets her best friend leave for school without saying good-bye, she never dreams that she might not see him again. But then a strange virus begins to sweep through her small island community, infecting young and old alike. As the dead pile up, the government quarantines the island: no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for the island’s dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of the people she holds dearest, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save those she loves.

Because how will she go on if there isn’t?

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first in a trilogy.

What’s good?

This story has a great premise – residents of an island community are quarantined after a fatal virus hits its citizens. Closed off from the mainland, Kaelyn and friends must survive while Kaelyn’s dad, a microbiologist searches for a cure. The characters are well drawn and it’s interesting to watch their personalities adapt as the situation becomes more serious. There’s a nice balance of tension, sadness, triumph, and romance. The last half of the book has a good amount of action.

Best part: Meredith

  

What’s not so good?

It was a slow start and I almost gave up a couple of times, but things picked up once the island was quarantined. The end was ridiculously disappointing since absolutely nothing was resolved. I realize the story continues with two more books, but I’m of the opinion that each book in a series should be a complete story that ends with intrigue, but also satisfaction. The diary format was good, but directing her writing to “Leo” was annoying. I loved Kaelyn’s brother Drew but his disappearance early on was strangely ignored for the most part. Kaelyn’s father’s character was a little flat.

Worst part: end

Recommendations þþþoo

The story is good, and maybe in the context of the complete trilogy it’s amazing, but since I didn’t have the other two books on hand, I was simply left with an empty feeling at the end. I don’t know how to rate this book because it might be worth the read. However, if you’re only planning to read the first book, save yourself some aggravation. Three checks for the great premise.

Crewe, Megan. The Way We Fall. New York: Hyperion, 2012. (Hardcover)