Well, I did it! I met my goal of 150 books, plus two extra! Huzzah! Breakdowns and “best of” to follow soon. Here are the books I finished 2013 with:
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die, by April Henry: Our narrator comes to on the floor of a cabin, bruised, achey and bleeding and unable to remember anything about who she is and how she got there. She flees her captors and finds help in Ty, a sympathetic teen. Together they solve the mysteries of her past and uncover a conspiracy with far greater implications.
This short, mystery novel is pretty much nonstop action from start to finish. Henry keeps the story moving at a nice, brisk pace. The chapters are short, and to the point; the writing direct and not overly complicated. The mystery’s plot is full of twists and turns that fuel the suspense (heightened by the short chapters). I think a lot of teens will find the length appealing as well as the story concept, and they’ll enjoy it too.
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Second Chance Summer, by Morgan Matson: Taylor’s dad is sick, and her family has one last summer to spend with him. They decide to go to the family cabin they used to spend summers in, but haven’t been to in years. Being back will force Taylor to confront old boyfriends and friends, who all seem to hate her, all while watching her father become sicker and sicker.
This is a novel that clearly could be an overwhelming tear-jerker, but Matson deftly weaves humor and romance into the story without anything feeling forced. The result is a beautifully written novel that authentically portrays Taylor’s summer of reconnecting with friends, righting wrongs, growing up and saying goodbye, but ultimately of second chances.
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The Night She Disappeared, by April Henry: This is a fast paced novel about the disappearance of Kayla, a pizza delivery girl. The novel focuses on Gabie and Drew, Kayla’s coworkers and classmates, as they struggle with their guilt and putting together the pieces. Interspersed are police interviews, 911 transcripts and newspaper articles that help to break things up and provide further clues while keeping the novel tight. While the three main characters were fairly well developed, the other characters were pretty generic, and the writing was good and taught, but not great. But for those who don’t mind, it is a quick (couple hours) easy read.
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United We Spy, by Ally Carter: The final installment of the Gallagher Girls series picks up at New Years, right before Cammie and the girls head back for their final semester. Members of The Circle are still at large and Cammie is still struggling to put all the pieces together. However, the tables turn and Cammie and Zack find themselves wanted and on the run. Unable to let their friend run away alone again, Liz, Bex and Macey come along to help Cammie find answers.
The Gallagher Girls are very near and dear to my heart and I love the whole series. I was not disappointed by it’s conclusion. Huzzah! Carter brings all the story lines and characters together, to deliver a satisfying ending. As usual, Carter’s writing is clear, clever and action packed. The tone, however, still has the weariness that crept in during Out of Sight, Out of Mind, after Cammie’s summer spent hunting The Circle. Throughout the series, the characters have grown realistically, the characters flawed, but real and honest. The heart of the novel and the whole series, is the wonderful friendship. Liz, Bex, Macey and Cammie trust, care for and back each other without fail, and I totally want to be in their group.
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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume: Eleven year old Margaret Simon is moving from the bustle of NYC to the suburbs of New Jersey. Starting at a new school, she quickly finds a group of girls, Gretchen, Nancy and Janie. Together Margaret and her friends navigate the sixth grade, a treacherous year that involves first bras, first kisses, spin the bottle and period panic. Inspired by her teacher’s year long project on any topic, Margaret delves into religion, which has never been a part of her life. Her father is Jewish, her mother is Christian and was disowned by her parents for marrying a Jewish man. As a result, her parents decided to keep religion out of the house and not practice any religion. Margaret attends different churches to learn about what different faiths offer, hoping to find one that calls to her.
I never actually read this pre-teen novel when I was younger, and I really wish I had. I enjoyed it as an adult, but I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more at the right age. What I found most impressive, is how well the novel holds up. There isn’t much that readers today wouldn’t understand. It’s a delightful, touching, honest look at a tough age where a lot of strange things start happening. It is a credit to the wonderful writing and story that allow it to hold up and speak to preteen girls, who can be a tough audience to please.
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The Bone Season, by Samantha Shannon: In a world where being a just a voyant can get you killed, Paige is the rarest of voyants, a dreamwalker. She works in the underground, as a member of the Seven Seals, a criminal group of voyants. When her inevitable arrest arrives, she is taken to a voyant prison in what was once Oxford. The prison and city are controlled by Rephaim, other worldly creatures that are a powerful type of voyant who use their prisoners as slaves and soldiers. Paige is sent to live with Warden, who is helping train her to hone her powers. Despite the risks, she still rebels in her search for a way out and helping her fellow prisoner voyants.
Shannon did an amazing job of world building. The world of the Scion, voyants and Rephaim is completely and thoroughly imagined and described. The characters are well drawn, but still maintain their mysteries and secrets. The complex world and twisting plot line could have been as tangled as my now packed Christmas lights, but Shannon keeps the lines clear, focused and taught. It is nearly impossible to put down.
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Will I Read the Sequel: I want to, but I think I’d have to reread/skim The Bone Season first because of the detail.
S
toker’s Manuscript, by Royce Prouty: This is an intriguing literary mystery, surrounding Stoker’s famous novel, Dracula. Joseph is a seller of rare books and document authenticator based in Chicago, and an orphan from Romania, who was rescued from an orphanage and raised in a Catholic Church He receives a call asking him to act as authenticator, negotiator and potential deliverer of Stoker’s Dracula notes and unpublished chapters. The buyer, is a wealthy Romanian wishes for total anonymity and using an agent to contact Joseph. As one would expect, there is more to the buyer and the subsequent task than meets the eye. What starts as a simple manuscript becomes a printed guide to finding the bride of the ancient creatures.
I picked this out on a whim, and I’m glad I did. It was an intriguing and well told mystery. While the story stands alone, and can be read without having read Dracula, I think having that background adds to the enjoyment of Stoker’s Manuscript. There are scenes that find Joseph in predicaments similar to Jonathan Harker, the protagonist in Dracula. Well researched details about turn of the century current events and popular figures as well as Stoker’s career and life lend texture to this historical and literary mystery. A good pick for those who enjoy Dracula lore or a good twist on an old classic.
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Dogs of War, written by Sheila Keenan and illustrated by Nathan Fox: Dogs have always played an important role in the military, and Dogs of War brings three canine heroes to life in three short stories. Each story focuses on a dog and his/her handler during three different wars. In WW I, we meet Donnie and Boots, a duo working with a medical unit to find injured soldiers and bring them to safety. In the midst of trench warfare, they become separated from their unit. The second story introduces us to Loki and Cooper, stationed in Greenland during WW II. The pair are sent to check out a downed plane, and find themselves in a race against the enemy, in the harsh winter conditions. In my imagination, Loki ran like this: 
Finally we meet Lanford, just back from the Vietnam War. As he bonds with the fatherless boy next door and his mischievous dog, we learn, through flashbacks of Sheba, the dog Lanford worked with in Vietnam.
Backbends and Bookends 