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City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare 

City of Ashes coverClary just wishes her life would go back to drawing and hanging out with Simon. Unfortunately, it can't after you find out that you're a shadowhunter, your mom is in a coma, you might possibly be in love with your brother, and your own dad is basically evil. I liked this book because it still had those hilarious characters. Plus, the combination of the action and romance is perfect. If you read City of Bones don't stop there! This book is just as good as the first. There are some great moments in this book where you just stop reading and go "whoa!"

4 stars

Audrey, 15

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold 

Lovely Bones coverA teenage girl, Susie Salmon, gets raped and killed by her own neighbor. She tried calling out for help but nobody heard her. Throughout the entire book, the only one who suspects that the neighbor did it is her sister, Lindsay. Susie's parents' marriage falls apart because of Susie's death and they get divorced and end up together in the end again. I really enjoyed this book because it's full of mystery. It makes you think about who you can and can't trust. It's a perfect example of the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" because she thought he was a nice guy but he turned out to be a rapist. I would recommend it to those who like mystery, crime, and love affairs. There isn't a single page in this book that doesn't have one of the three.

4 stars

Safiro, 16

Variant by Robison Wells 

Variant coverVariant is about a teen named Benson Fisher, who is enrolled in a school where there are no adults, internet, telephones, communication with the outside world, and ultimately, no escape. However, escape is Benson's only option for himself, even though no one has ever escaped before without vanishing or being killed. Variant is the story of Benson trying to figure a way out, as well as who he can and cannot trust. Variant is an extremely interesting book because there are twist and turns at every chapter that make you want to reach the end. I literally read the novel in one night. As soon as you think the book might start to get boring, something pops up that is beyond your imagination. If you like science fiction, survival, or coming of age genres, I would recommend Variant because of its action-packed, face-paced content.

5 stars

Taylor, 14

Fang: A Maximum Ride novel by James Patterson 

Fang coverIn book 6 of the Maximum Ride series, Max and the flock face their biggest challenge yet as Angel, on a CMS mission to Chad, predicts that Fang will be the first to die. Max becomes worried about this prediction especially since she and Fang had just finally started hitting it off. Tensions rise in the group itself as Fang and Max become a couple and the rest of the flock feels left out. They feel especially in danger when they're attacked and neither Max nor Fang are there to save them. And to add more to Max's list of troubles, she now has to deal with another crazy evil scientist, Dr G-H, who wants to use the bird kids as test subjects. What makes this time worse is that Dr. G-H has created a bird kid of his own, Dylan, and Max finds him to be perfect...is it possible that he's to replace Fang? I truly did like the idea behind Fang. The story, and the entire series as well, is one that keeps you hooked and interested. There are quite a few twists and turns and you'll always find yourself on the edge of your seat and the balls of your feet as Patterson throws surprise after surprise at you with every new page. The only thing that was a bit troublesome was the writing style. It was a bit too childish at times and seemed to wander from the topic at hand at some parts. I would recommend this book to all others, especially those of you who love a great adventure. Fang gets you thinking about the possibilities with human genetics, but also brings up the ethical and moral responsibilities behind it all. 

4 stars

Jana, 17

Blood Fever by Charlie Higson 

Blood Fever coverThe novel Blood Fever by Charlie Higson is about the adventures of a young boy named Bond, James Bond. Upon visiting his cousin on the island of Sardinia, he learns of a relative of one of his schoolmates was kidnapped by pirates on the Mediterranean sea. Soon he is caught up in an island-wide war and must save the prisoner and escape with his life. I like this novel because it has all the elements of the original James Bond books and has all new characters. I recommend this book to all James Bond fans and people who love adventure.

4 stars

Liam, 15

Outlaw by Stephen Davies 

Outlaw coverIn Outlaw, Jake Knight, the son of the British ambassador, is suspended from his boarding school because his adventurous nature has once again gotten him in trouble. Jake ends up joining his parents in Burkina Faso. He's overjoyed because now, in Africa, he can have the adventure he has always wanted. But Jake never wanted to be kidnapped. In the middle of a banquet, Jake and Kas, his younger sister, are kidnapped by a man with a spiderweb tattoo. They are told that this man is Yakuuba Sor, the most wanted outlaw in the Sahara desert. But as Jake and Kas try to escape, as they rush to get home, they learn that not everything is what it seems and that a modern Robin Hood may actually exist in this world. Outlaw is an amazing book filled with adventure from the start. Every chapter is filled with some surprise, some sudden event that was never expected. More than anything, Outlaw shows that nothing is impossible and that if you put your mind to it, you can do anything and everything. And it clearly shows that bigger is not always better; in fact, cunning is always better than force. It gives you hope and shows you that even you can make a difference in this world. I would recommend this book to readers who love a good adventure story that keeps them hooked from the start. If you like James Bond, action, and a little bit of humor than Outlaw is the book for you.

5 stars

Jana, 16

Stolen by Lucy Christopher 

01/31/2012 Categories: kidnapping realistic fiction suspense

Stolen coverGemma is a girl from London who gets kidnapped at the airport by a man that has loved her for years, but to her he is a total stranger. Ty, the guy that kidnapped Gemma, takes her to an unknown desert in Australia where he expects her to love him and stay with him forever. I liked this book because of what happens at the end. Yes, I would recommend this book to people who aren't afraid to read books that are kind of a scary reality mixed with romance.

4 stars

Audrey, 14