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)

Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden

Pages: 276

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Survival, war, adventure

Notes for parents: Scenes of violence and some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

When Ellie and her friends go camping, they have no idea they’re leaving their old lives behind forever. Despite a less-than-tragic food shortage and a secret crush or two, everything goes as planned. But a week later they return home to find their houses empty and their pets starving. Something has gone wrong – horribly wrong. Before long, they realize the country has been invaded, and their entire town has been captured – including their families and all their friends.

Ellie and the other survivors face an impossible decision: They can flee for the mountains or surrender. Or they can fight.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a seven part series set in Australia. (There’s a follow-up trilogy as well.)

What’s good?

This is a gripping, well-written, fast-paced adventure filled with tension, lots of action, some romance, and even humour. The characters are realistic and capable.Their rural upbringing makes their survival skills believable, while their youth makes it difficult for them to fully comprehend the seriousness of their situation. I enjoyed following these typical teens as they rose to the occasion – developing strategies, planning covert sabotage missions, taking responsibility, learning about consequences, living in jeopardy, being courageous…and deciding to stand and fight instead of run and hide, all without adult supervision.

The main character, Ellie, is a strong female heroine, supported by good secondary characters. While none of the teens are very fleshed out, this is the first of seven books so we’ll likely learn more about them throughout the series.

Best part: The nameless, faceless enemy. No time is wasted on the politics of explaining who the enemy is.

  

What’s not so good?

The start is a bit slow since we already know what they’ll be walking into when they leave the bush. The format of chronicling the events for history’s sake keeps parts of the story a bit dry. It often lacks emotion and sometimes feels downright awkward when Ellie includes personal thoughts that seem inappropriate for all to read. Some readers may be turned off by the Australian lingo, but a handy glossary is included at the beginning. Also, the lack of technology (this was written in 1993) may make the story feel dated at first, but once the action starts, all of that will be forgotten.

Worst part: The end! This is definitely not a stand-alone book. Reading this basically commits you to reading the other six!

Recommendations þþþþo

Several other reviews compared this to the Red Dawn movies. While the idea is similar, this story blows Red Dawn out of the water as far as I’m concerned! In fact, I would go so far as to say I enjoyed this more than The Hunger Games. The action and danger is riveting, the characters are cheer-worthy, the peril is believable, and the setting is gritty. Definitely recommended!

Marsden, John. Tomorrow When the War Began. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1993.

The Good Neighbors: Kin by Holly Black & Ted Naifeh

Pages: 114

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: graphic novel; supernatural

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature themes

The Inside Cover

Rue Silver’s life isn’t at all what it appears to be. Her mother has disappeared – and her father is being blamed for a murder. Is he guilty? Or is there another truth beneath it all?

Rue digs deeper into her family’s past and makes a startling discovery: Her mother is a faerie, and she has vanished back into the faerie realm because of a broken promise. In order to get her back, Rue must plunge into the depths of her own identity – and must follow the sinister twists of her own fate.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a trilogy.

What’s good?

There are no Tinkerbells here! This is a dark, mysterious, and mature story of a troubled teen from a broken home who discovers her fairy – I should say faery – origins which leads her to uncover several mysteries. While the premise itself isn’t original, the presentation is well done. The black and white drawings are beautiful, giving the story a haunting feel. The characters are believable and likeable, and the story moves at a good pace. The lore is more in line with ancient legends of powerful and vengeful faeries, giving this a darker, more sinister feel than your average fairy tale.

Best Part: The faery at the locker who gives Rue attitude.

What isn’t good?

This story is nothing new. There seems to be a plethora of stories out there where someone discovers they’re a fairy or wizard or mind reader or vampire slayer, etc. Being the first in a trilogy, the story ends with a lot of loose ends, which is frustrating when you don’t have the second book on hand.  

Worst part: None.

Recommendation þþþþo

I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the drawings immensely. It was a quick read, as are most graphic novels, but it was by no means fluff. There are many important themes and emotions explored in the story. Recommended.

Black, Holly. The Good Neighbors: Kin. New York: Graphix, 2008. (Hardcover)

Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

Pages: 306

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Supernatural

Notes for parents: Scenes of violence, coarse language, and mature themes

The Back Cover

Enter the dark, magical world of the House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change – and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny—with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

It tells you everything! Why bother reading the book? I hate when they do that. This is book 1 of a 12 book series. Yes, I said 12! (There are also 3 novellas, a handbook, and a few other related books).

What’s good?

This is a fairly original mash-up of vampire legend, Greek mythology, Wiccan rituals and more. The pace is good, the school is a great setting, and the plot flows nicely. I like the first person narrative – she sounds like a typical teen which gives believability to the strong female lead. The supporting characters are well done although a few are a little overdone. The story itself is interesting and entertaining.

Best part: Stevie Rae.

What’s not so good?

I’m a vampire traditionalist so I don’t particularly like when people mess with tradition. However, it could have been worse – they could’ve sparkled! Needless to say, the lore is a bit cheesy at times. The story’s treatment of religion is a bit nonsensical with its mixed anti-Christian, pro-tolerance message.

Worst part: The use of vampyre instead of vampire is annoying.

Recommendations þþþoo

This series has great potential, but ultimately I felt this first book fell flat. I’ve given it three checkmarks because I did find it interesting and entertaining enough to read the next book in the series. However, I feel it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. I recommend this, but only to vampire enthusiasts looking for a soap opera twist on the old lore.

Cast, P.C. & Cast, Kristen. Marked. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007.

Deck Z: The Titanic by Chris Pauls & Matt Solomon

Pages: 222

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Supernatural horror

Notes for Parents: Contains many scenes of graphic violence

The Inside Cover

The year is 1912. Theodor Weiss, a German scientist, has discovered a strange new plague that ravages its victims, transforming them into soulless, flesh-hungry monsters. Yet, his lab studies show that the strain also holds great promise: It could be the key to a cure for all types of the plague. When Weiss uncovers a sinister military plan to use the disease as a weapon, he steals the world’s only sample vial and makes for America, where he will be safely out of the reach of German operatives. And what better way to travel in anonymity than on the world’s largest ocean liner, making its maiden voyage that very week?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the authors’ first novel.

What’s good?

I love a good zombie story! This is a highly entertaining, well-written, fast paced story about the desperate battle to survive a zombie invasion below deck on the ill-fated Titanic. While infusing tales of the undead into a dramatic moment in history requires a bit of literary licensing, the authors do an excellent job of staying true to history (for the most part) while injecting the myth and horror of a zombie plague. The characters are well-drawn and carefully introduced. The suspense builds slowly at first as we follow the toxic aboard the ship, but as the invasion spreads, action and horror spill into the lower decks where heroes and villains are born!

Best Part: Captain E.J. Smith and his sword, Kabul.

What isn’t good?

To bend a true story in this way may seem disrespectful to the actual people whose lives were lost in the tragedy. However, I read it as more of a tribute to the timeless legend than was Titanic, rather than the historical event. Some of the battles are over the top and the gore is graphic, but that’s all standard fare for a good zombie story as far as I’m concerned.  

Worst part: The flaming squash balls.

Recommendation þþþþo

It’s a gory adventure, full of severed heads, half-eaten crew members, a cane-weilding German and a swashbuckling captain who thrusts and parries until he goes down with his ship. With a grain of salt and a sense of humour, this is a very entertaining tale. Recommended (but bring a weapon!).

Pauls, Chris. Solomon, Matt. Deck Z: The Titanic. New York: Scholastic, 2012.