It's simple enough to pinpoint when reading Young Adult fiction became socially acceptable. "The Hunger Games" trilogy, marketed originally to the teen set in Scholastic fliers, spread like wildfire to the adult population. The caliber of the writing and the quality storyline meant mass appeal and … [Read more...]
Mad Scientist School
This new series is the perfect starting place for getting your kids into inventing and experimenting - don't say I didn't warn you! Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab by "Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith Quirk Books, ISBN: 978 1 59474 648 2 When siblings Nick and … [Read more...]
Hallowe’en-Ready Creepiness
Hallowe'en is all about setting a mood, right? If you're looking to be fully creeped out, I've got just the ticket. Asylum, by Madeleine Roux HarperCollins, ISBN: 978 0 062 22096 7 I am, I must admit, fairly easily creeped out if a book can pass my strong bullshit-0-meter and skepticism. … [Read more...]
Worst. School. Ever.
School starts tomorrow - but you can bet it's nothing like Benson's new school. Thank goodness... Variant, by Robison Wells Harper Teen, ISBN: 978 0 062 02608 8 Benson is leaving his umpteenth foster home and school for a private school he got into on a special grant, and he couldn't be … [Read more...]
Smoke and Suspense
When a sheltered city girl ends up in a forest fire camp where things are more than a little hinky, she's going to have a very eye-opening summer... Smokescreen, by Nancy Hartry Tundra Books, ISBN: 978 1 77049 405 3 Kerry's summer job in cottage development up north turns out totally … [Read more...]
Sleuthing with Tongue in Ghostly Cheek
If you're named October and writing a horror novel while sitting in a graveyard... is it really that surprising when you end up hanging out with a bunch of ghosts? The Dead Kid Detective Agency by Evan Munday ECW Press ISBN: 978 1 550 22971 4 October Schwartz and her dad are new in … [Read more...]