The Limit by Kristen Landon

In the not-too-distant future the government has stepped in to "help" individuals control their personal debt. Everyone is given a limit, and families who exceed their limit are given options: they can undergo a program of strict spending regulation or send one of their children to a workhouse.


This has always been something that happened to other families. Then one day Matt's mother's card is rejected at the supermarket. A few hours later Matt is taken. At first it's not a big deal. Matt is placed on the Top Floor, with it's cushy rooms, unlimited buying and freedom to order anything and everything for meals. But Matt is suspicious and hacks into the workhouse's computer. What he finds shocks him out of his complacency. Now he has to find a way to stop the abuses going on before he's permanently silenced.

This thrilling novel takes today's economics and turns them into a dystopia that is easily imagined. I could not stop reading it and recommend it highly.

Kane Chronicles #2 Release Date!

Rick Riordan's popular new series, The Kane Chronicles, follows siblings Carter and Sadie as they learn about their family's magical roots and the power that flows in their blood. Book one, The Red Pyramid, came out in May 2009 and was a huge hit. It has just been announced that book two, The Throne of Fire, will be released on May 3, 2011.

Rick Riordan is also the author of the popular Percy Jackson series.

Firespell by Chloe Neill

Its not often that I come across something original in paranormal lit for teens, but Firespell is definitely one of these rare gems. Chloe Neill took the (almost) overused themes of boarding school, magic and vampires and twisted them around to tell the story of Lily Parker and the Junior Varsity.

Lily's parents have the opportunity to take a sabbatical in Germany, studying the papers of a famous philosopher. Rather than take their teenage daughter with them, they enroll Lily in St. Sophia's, an all-girls boarding school in Chicago. There Lily meets Scout, her self-proclaimed new BFF. But while Scout has taken Lily under her wing, the uber-rich-brat-pack finds every opportunity to antagonize the new girl. Typical boarding school stuff, really. But then one night Lily follows Scout as she sneaks out of their suite on a mysterious "errand." They descend into a series of tunnels under the school, and though Lily loses Scout, she learns enough to be afraid for her friend's safety.

Okay, I could say more but I'd be giving too much away. Read the book. Its great. Trust me.

Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes by Lisa Greenwald

Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes is a cute novel about how friendships transition. Told in the voices of three girls (Olivia, Georgia & Kate) the novel relates each girls' perspective on their long-standing friendship, their crushes, and each other. Each girl is realistic and the story plays out well. I recommend this one for middle-school girls who worry that growing up means growing apart from their friends.

By the way, here's a fortune cookie recipe, in case this book makes you crave homemade fortune cookies, or if you want to duplicate Olivia, Georgia & Kate's idea.

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

They found Avery, covered in blood, by the bodies of her parents. She was trying to put them back together. Avery herself can’t remember anything that happened after dinner. Just blood. And silver. And something that moved inhumanly fast. The police are baffled. Who in the small town of Westlake could – would - do that to two people. Avery’s parent’s were liked, even though they lived in the woods and kept to themselves. Everyone has always said the woods were home to strange half-human creatures in their deepest, most unreachable heart. Could the woods be holding other secrets, too? Secrets that came from the woods and murdered Avery’s parents?


Low Red Moon is a very well-written and enjoyable read. There’s mystery and romance in the story, and just when you start to think the ending is predictable and obvious, Devlin throws in a plot twist. I sincerely hope there’s a sequel planned.

Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham

I really wasn't sure if I'd like this novel. Gee's Bend has never really interested me, and I wasn't sure if a white adult novelist would be able to convincingly tell a story as a ten-year-old poor black child. But everyone was raving about the book, and the author is from Alabama, so I gave it a go. And am I ever glad that I did!

Ludelphia Bennett is such a wonderful character. She jumped into my mind and heart and took over as I raced through her story. Secondary characters were just as developed, and Gee's Bend seemed to come to life in my mind. Not only am I now interested in the history of this amazing place, I find myself with the urge to quilt...

Nightshade by Andrea R. Cremer

Calla and Ren's destiny's have always been intertwined. At birth they were matched by the Keepers, and when they turn 18 they will be mated. Both alphas, they will then begin to form their own pack, patrolling the area to watch for and prevent an attack by the Searchers. Calla has always known this, but as Samhain, and her birthday, gets nearer she finds herself...restless. When she discovers an injured hiker while on patrol she starts down a path that will expose the deeply hidden history of the Guardians, Keepers and Searchers, and drive Calla away from everything she's ever known.

This novel was a refreshing twist on the werewolf theme. Though there are definite Twilight overtones, the heroine is much stronger and the plot is more thrilling. I stayed up late reading this book and absolutely cannot wait until the next book is published!