The Death Cure

by James Dashner
PRMS hardcover 324 pages
book three in The Maze Runner series
genre: dystopian adventure

So glad to have it over with . . . violent, pointless, nasty series. Thomas refuses to get his memories back. Denver turns into Crank Central (non-dead zombie-like humans who have gone crazy and kill to eat other humans). Whatever. I just read this so I could find out how it ended. Newt wasn't immune. Thomas finally decided to trust his gut instincts. Chancellor Page ended up saving the day. The Gladers were reunited with Gally. Humanity radically changed forever.

The Scorch Trials

by James Dashner
PRMS hardcover 360 pages
genre: dystopian adventure
book two in The Maze Runner series

How can I keep reading books I don't like? Because I really, really want to understand what's going on in this series. Who is Thomas really? What is the point of what he's going through?

Violent, nasty, brutal. WICKED does more icky stuff to these kids. They are sent across a searing hot wasteland (The Scorch) and have to walk 100 miles north in two weeks to get to The Safe Haven. Cranks will try to kill and eat them, violent lightning storms fry some of them, etc. etc.

Aris, Brenda, and Jorge are introduced. I suspect everyone's motives.

The Serpent's Shadow

by Rick Riordan
PRMS hardcover 401 pages
genre: fantasy adventure, Egyptian mythology

The final part of the trilogy. Wonderful conclusion, though I really wanted them to find an actual cure for Walt (Akhenaton's curse). Enjoyed the story and the two wonderful young narrators.

The Throne of Fire

by Rick Riordan
PRMS hardcover 447 pages
book two in the Kane Chronicles
genre: fantasy, Egyptian mythology

Sadie and Carter are at it again - saving the world while having bizarre experiences as Egyptian magicians. I LOVE the voices of these two young people - Riordan can embody the voice and attitude of a 13-year-old British girl - simply amazing. They need to find three pieces of a scroll so they can awaken Ra and prevent Apophis from rising. They have been busy training initiates, but Carter is obsessing about finding Zia and Sadie is trying to figure out her personal love triangle with Anubis and Walt.
Reading these makes me curious about Egyptian mythology, something I know little about. I'm not sure why students don't seem to like this series as well as the Percy Jackson books . . . are they more challenging to read? Do the two narrators throw them off? Is Egyptian mythology less accessible than Greek? I'm appreciative of Riordan's talent. I like that there is humor in with the action and adventure.

Slathbog's Gold

by M.L. Forman
book one of Adventurer's Wanted series
Hennepin County Library hardcover 382 pages

Alex enters a book shop to ask about the strange sign in the front window, but finds himself signed on to be an adventurer. He travels to a place whose name I forgot and embarks upon a trip to vanquish a dragon. Everything about this book sounded perfect for our grade 6 LAX, which is why I requested it. I found it had positive values and a good tone, lots of traditional elements (dwarves, elves, trolls, etc.), and a somewhat reluctant hero. Ultimately, I thought it was slow, with too many descriptions of meals and travels. The fight with the dragon was extremely short and anticlimactic. I honestly don't know if middle school boys would like it, but I found it to be a disappointing fantasy title. The only innovative piece was the geebs - odd little messenger creatures who can only make yes and no sounds. I have no idea why 15-year-old Alex would be so reluctant to learn and use magic. I'm not planning to read book two to find out.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

by James Patterson
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4 discs

Glad I finally read it. Odd story of an alien boy whose parents are murdered when he is three years old. At 15, he is on his own as an alien hunter. Lots of violence and improbable scenarios, but an entertaining story in some ways. I dislike the super-short chapters (but that's perhaps what some reluctant readers like) but enjoyed the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Not a very well-developed story, but an appealing fantasy / action tale for some middle school readers.

Traveler's Rest

by Ann Tatlock
Hennepin County Library paperback 342 pages
genre: Christian fiction

Nice story. I like this author. Jane is engaged to Seth, but when he returns from Iraq a paraplegic, everything changes for the young couple. He tells her to go away and find someone else. She still loves him and is committed to marrying him and caring for him. Truman is a wonderful older man who lives at the VA home and befriends both Jane and Seth. Wonderful characters, engaging story, somewhat predictable ending. My favorite scene is when Eugene shows Truman the video interview he did with Maggie before she died.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

by Michael Macrone
Hennepin County Library, hard cover, 225 pages
genre: Literary non-fiction

I want to OWN this! Subtitled "A delightfully entertaining guide to the most famous and quotable expressions from the Bard," the author did an amazing job researching Shakespeare quotations. Interestingly enough, some that we consider his were published elsewhere first (like "it's Greek to me") and the author carefully explains that some others attributed to Shakespeare may have originated elsewhere. If he couldn't find earlier documentation, he gave credit to the play or sonnet in which WS used it first.

I stumbled upon this title when I was trying to find the source of the readers' theatre piece we use during the Medieval banquet at school. Fun for word nuts like me!

The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls

by Julie Schumacher
Hennepin County Library, hardcover, 230 pages
genre: teen fiction

I had read a review of this book somewhere (connected with an author event) and I knew I wouldn't be able to go to the event, but was curious about the book. I put my name on the reserve list and by the time I got the book, I thought it was non-fiction. Since it was due at the library, I thought I'd skim it and return it (still a waiting list on it). Wow! I'm so glad I had time on a long car ride to read the whole thing. What a wonderful story!

CeeCee, Adrienne, Jill, and Wallis are very unlikely friends. When two of the moms come up with the idea of a mother-daughter book club, CeeCee and Adrienne are appalled. They are going into their junior (or senior) year of high school and do NOT want to have to do a book club. Jill takes her SAT-prep very seriously and thinks discussing the summer reading titles before AP English is a good idea. Wallis is the wild card . . . we never really learn her story, but the bits and pieces are intriguing. Adrienne's identity crisis is well developed and resolved throughout the story. (And I LOVE the "essay" and chapter headings!)

Schumacher is the director (?) of the creative writing program at the U of M. She can definitely walk the talk! This book is wonderful and one I'll add to the collection at PRMS.

Raising Dragons

by Bryan Davis
Hennepin County LIbrary hardcover ? pages
genre: Christian YA fantasy

I initially requested this as a possibility for a 6th grade LAX fantasy title, then wanted to read it just because I love to read, but finally decided to just peruse it and return it because I just don't have enough time! I only read the first two chapters before we got to the library, but I was really enjoying it. The protagonist doesn't realize that he has dragon blood, but he knows that his breath has been getting hotter and stronger. He also has strange dreams in which he's a dragon. Then a weird guy in a Cadillac is following him. The writing is very clean (not surprising from a Christian author) and appealing. This would work with upper elementary / young middle school kids. I wish I had time to finish reading it, because it's a delightful book from the outset.

Battle Dress

by Amy Efaw
loaned to me by a student, paperback, 290 pages
genre: YA fiction

Andi (Andrea) Davis is going to West Point. Her family is more doubtful than supportive that she can make it there. The toughness of Beast (basic training) and the challenges - both physical and mental - make her question herself over and over again.

Interesting book. Now that I've read it, I'm curious to hear why the student who loaned it to me liked it so much. The military part? Her personal struggle to succeed? There wasn't really any romance and not much in the way of subplots, but it was a worthwhile read.

Sarah's Key

by Tatiana DeRosnay
Hennepin County Library audioCDs (8 discs)
read by Polly Stone
genre: WWII fiction / modern day relationships

What I loved about this story: the balance between the events of 1942 and Julia learning about it sixty years later, the children (historical & modern), the unfolding of characters' lives.
What I disliked: the relationship between Julia and Bertrand, Julia's insecurities and dramas, Julia in general . . .

I learned a lot. I had no idea that the French police had complied so willingly with the Nazis during the occupation. I'm surprised and saddened that more people didn't try to help.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs
PRMS hardcover 348 pages
genre: supernatural

What an unusual story! Jacob and his grandfather are close, but Jacob isn't quite sure what to believe about the stories he hears. When his grandfather is killed, no one believes Jacob's tale about the creature he saw. When Jacob and his father go to Cairnholm Island (the location of some of his grandfather's stories), strange things happen. Peculiar children, a time loop, hollowgasts, wights, . . . a very strange and captivating story! I love that the photographs in the book are actual vintage photos. Odd, scary, fascinating.

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 11 discs
narrated by Jim Dale
genre: historical fantasy

What an unusual, but very captivating story! Two young people, Celia and Marco, are bound by two older magicians when they are mere children. They don't fully understand what the "challenge" even is as they are training to undertake it. The Night Circus is created to be the venue for the challenge and it is filled with unusual people and attractions.

Amanda Wermerskirchen recommended this to me. I'll have to let her know how much I enjoyed it. Absolutely captivating and extraordinary! (It was also interesting to be listening to this intermixed with my reading of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.)