Book Type: Softcover
Publisher: Octane Press
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Author Web Page:

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem. And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her. Or so he says.

On The Veil the reader will have the opportunity to meet the Anarrosi World, a beautiful and enigmatic parallel universe full o power and secrets.  On her seventeenth birthday, the veil for Addison Russell was lifted, and then she starts seeing things than are not part of the human world. This is when she gets a first glimpse to The Anarrosi World.  A world that has little parts of everything she is, but will not accept her because of the secrets that surrounded her family and a battle that started long before she was born.   The Veil was definitely a page turner for me. I loved the elements of fantasy that Putman incorporated in the story and how she crafted her world.  I felt lost and captivated through Addison’s journeys. One of the things I really enjoyed from the story was that secondary characters have a story to tell also.  Nate, for example, had a very touching story. It’s nice to see other characters finding their way.  In this aspect the major credit I can give to Putman Oakes is that the fantasy is rich, but the real situations are mirrored beautiful. The romance between Addison and Lucas, her OWN Anarrosi Knight in shining armor, is so sweet; just how I like love stories.  I feel it’s more a love story than a romance aspect of the book  because it’s very elegantly crafted and Addison and Lucas have the opportunity to really know each other; no third parties (love triangles), no immortality or anything trending in YA, just two teenagers who are falling in love in the middle of extraordinary circumstances. The Veil the story of a girl finding her way into the word she didn’t know she was part of and the boy who will do everything to protect her.

The Veil could be used as extracurricular material in topics like:  Finding Yourself and Defining Moments in Life.  Readers could find a Book Club Discussion Guide in Cory Putman Oakes Official Webpage.

Forget the world as you know it and try to imagine it if we lose our identity and the ability of deciding. This is what Julia Karr features in her impressive debut novel. XVI narrates Nina’s story, a normal girl about to turn sixteen, where society she lives on means sexual exploration with or without her consent. Lots of girls her age wish to turn sixteen and get marked with such enigmatic tattoo, but Nina is not one of those. Her life is altered when her mom is brutally murdered and asks her to go find her dad, whom she thought dead all her life. I’m really impressed with this book by the way Karr handles the topic on media governing society in all aspects of decisions, it’s interesting and invites you to meditate on it. One of the aspects I liked the most was the character’s platform, most of the main and secondary having self identity and not being each one’s clones. Nina’s aspect on trying to solve her dad’s enigma while assimilates certain information, protecting her sister and falling in love is really captivating. Another aspect which drew my attention was that regardless of the serious topics in the book, the character’s interactions as friends and the presentation of these bonds are beautiful. Romance is pleasant and does not outshine the main plot. The only thing I would have liked was knowing a little bit more about the past story; how this world got to be what it is in the story. Even having information, I would have liked more in order to understand certain things. XVI, the story of a society with no self identity where a youngster, along her friends and the resistance  fight for their identity and won’t stop until they win.

This book could be used as extra curricular material where teenagers can analyze how media defines their behavior or the way they interact actually and how they would do under the circumstances narrated in the story.

Another “angel” is in town.   Clara Gardner is a nephilim’s (half angel – half human) daughter.  Each one of these hybrids has a destiny to fulfill on Earth known as a “purpose”.  When Clara receives her purpose, which is presented through the dream of a boy her same age, her mom, her brother and herself decide to move looking for the boy in that vision.  This new place will not only introduce her vision’s boy, Christian Tucker, but also the boy who will steal her heart; it’s in Tucker Avery where duty and love collide.  I liked the story in general, but I was expecting MUCH more. The book’s angelology is practically inexistent; something I believe should be developed into the story’s theme.  A book about angels, nephilims, battles between good and evil without angelology is like Harry Potter without magic.  Romance in the story is adorable and funny.  The dynamics on how the relationship flows makes the reader want to know what’s going to happen, if there’s something to happen between them and the most beautiful thing is that they had the opportunity to really know each other.  It wasn’t love on first sight, which is my favorite thing about the story.  Some of the secondary characters like Angela and Wendy inspire empathy.  However, I noticed several Hermoine Granger traces in Angela.  Christian Precott as a “love interest”, if you want to call it that way, is kind of tasteless and as a character does not have the grace of developing to a required level in the story.  The thing I liked least is that the story’s theme, the purpose, is never revealed with clarity, which makes it worse because this suppose to be the book’s story line.  In my opinion, Clara and Christian figured that in that purpose they should be a couple.  This makes me think … Where is it written? … Why?   Apparently, there’s no type of detail in their visions revealing how they reached so “brilliant” conclusion.  The ending shows a glimpse of other stories developing simultaneously, which is a good element.  Unearthly, the story of a nephilim girl searching for her earthly purpose where she found love and friends, but mostly torn between her heart and calling.

 

To my understanding as an educator, History class was GREAT, the dynamics are real and the concept it was driven by is enjoyable. I loved it since it was one of the techniques I like to use.

Book Type: Softcover
Publisher: Penguin Group
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: April, 2010

Author Web Page:

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet’s life is in tatters. Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead. The next thing she knows, her father has dragged Maggie away from their elegant Newport home, off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana. Torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her friends, from society, and verging on no prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her father’s betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie’s heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she is and who she wants to be.

With the same beauty as a portrait that can always be appreciated, that’s how Faithful is descriptively narrated. It tells the story of a youngster called Maggie Bennets, a girl who’s about to debut on society in 1904 when her plans are postponed due to the possibility that her missing mom for several months might still be alive. Maggie will embark a trip far from the place where her dreams and wishes are to find the truth about her mom’s singular character and an unexpected love. Even though the main character possesses the peculiar characteristics of any single girl from that time, there are sparks that an eternal characteristic from any girl is to meet love. It’s occasionally frustrating and sad at the same time seeing Magie’s battle with fact of leaving on a journey that could maybe return her mother under the risk of losing the opportunity of being someone in society that decided social status during that time. Faithful combines the epoch elegance with the scandals, prejudices and common limitations in high society. Maggie’s mother mystery is well worked and is certainly surprising, which makes you understand better the woman you “know” at the beginning of the story. One of my favorite characters is Mrs. Gale, who teaches Maggie that it doesn’t matter where we come from or what society expects from us women, we have the ability to be somebody by ourselves without resigning to our heart’s wishes. Faithful narrates the story of a young woman becoming who she should be and realizing truth makes you free and fills your life with hope.

 

Faithful is excellent material to show life of a specific period, under which laws society was ruled and the role of women in such societies. Extracurricular activities could involve creating a newspaper activity based on the period where students can be able to develop stories with the note tips the book offers.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Egmont USA
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: April, 2010

Author Web Page:

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

The Cinderella Society is not Cinderella’s alternate version, it’s more like the idea of what the Cinderella story represents … and I explain; since its first version, the Cinderella story has meant for many girls the possibility that dreams can come true. Having a message against high school cliques and a strong girl power support, Cassidy delivers us her first novel. Jess, the main character and story narrator, is not a common girl; she’s an extraordinary girl that doesn’t realize her potential and capacity for a handful of situations from the beginning of the story. She has never felt part of a group and she’s constantly verbally assaulted by her foe Lexy, her crush’s Ryan sister … until the day she receives a particular invitation. It is there where she’ll find not only friends, but also a secret that has been part of two family generations and many influential women around the world. I really enjoyed how the author worked the structural part of the story and character development. In this last aspect, it’s incredible how Cassidy presents these wonderful characters to us: the “cindys” and the “charmings”, but it takes us far away from this perfection version and it’s molded in a realistic way that can be measured in real terms, a very admirable aspect from the author in my humble opinion. The reader could have a general idea on what this society consists of and the end is although there will be much more to discover in the already scheduled sequel. With an entertaining, original and inspirational story, The Cinderella Society will make girls, youngsters and adults wish for a fairy godmother who recites the next magic phrase: Welcome to the Sisterhood!

 

As extracurricular material where topics like school cliques, stereotypes and self power could be discussed, this title is very convenient. It will allow the educator to do something innovative like finding another title appealing for the masculine population and compare both stories in such aspects. Some of the potential topics are:

• What does change starts with?
• What determines who you really are?
• If you had the power to influence others, how will you use such power?

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Egmont USA
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: December 22, 2009

Author Web Page:

Polly Madassa is convinced she was born for a more romantic time. A time when Elizabeth Bennet and Anne of Green Gables walked along the moors and beaches of the beautiful land, a time where a distinguished gentleman called upon a lady of quality and true love was born in the locked eyes of two young lovers.  But alas, she was not. This, however, does not stop our young heroine from finding romance wherever she can conjure it up. So while Polly is burdened with a summer job of delivering baked goods from her parents bakery (how quaint!) to the people in her small beach town, she finds a way to force … um … encourage romance to blossom. She is determined to bring lovers, young and old, together…whether they want to be or not.

The narrator of the story, Polly, is a charming girl who enjoys classic stuff. In the summer the story’s narrated, Polly finds herself at a new job; making deliveries for her parent’s bakery while remembering her matchmaking gift at a singular situation she decides to find an “true love” to her Dearest Fran father. This is where the adventure starts since Polly already feels confident about her gift that she decides to take her town’s romantic interests into her own hands with her plan: “Love is In The Making”.  What Polly’s ignoring is that she also has an admirer. One of the most admirable aspects of the story is how Eland drives her characters; through Polly’s eyes we’ll have a clear idea on the lives of secondary characters. The reader will grow fond of them throughout the story and will want the same as Polly; seeing them happy. Experiences also seem real and according to each character’s age. The biggest credit I can give the author is how she managed parents and authority figures without taking the spark off the book. Scones and Sensibility possesses a singular charm, its plot is surrounded by sweetness and one of the most charming main characters I’ve read about in a long time. No lack of deepness and gives the reader one than another lesson in the process.  Scones and Sensibilities is really one of those titles I wish moves from generation to generation because of the beauty of its content.

 

This is a title in which teaching for middle grade students outstand, it would be great their publishing house decides to create a study guide.  Between the possible educative topics to develop there are:

• Family
• Friendship
• Responsibilities
• First Impressions
• Core Family Diversities

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Henry Holt
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Author Web Page:

Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number-one rule: don’t get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip. They’re searching for one fair day a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny’s unsuspecting companions hope will hold simply a day of fun. But, as Destiny says, “Things are not always what they seem.” Only she knows that Langdon holds far more than that a deep secret she has never shared with anyone.

There are stories that remain recorded in your memory and thanks to them you understand the “why” of loving literature so much; The Miles Between is one of those stories. The story’s extract can be summarized with words like: coincidence, faith, destiny and second chances. The story begins with our narrator Destiny Faraday making us know the base of the world she lives in: where and “why”, we’ll superficially see a bit of her previous story lived at Hedbrook Academy. Destiny lives under a simple life code: routine, pre availability and does not bond with anyone, EVER. Until one day she wishes “just a fair day”. It’s October 19th when three Hedbrook Academy classmates and herself take the car’s steering wheel unto a journey that will change their lives forever. Right over the surface, many will think that this story is about coincidences alone, but goes way beyond. We’ll meet Destiny and the rest of her companions: Seth, Mira and Aidan on some wonderful way. Their journey will be infested with curious events “Serendipity” style and, however, the trail will leave tracks in the lives of each one of our characters. They will find something once lost in their lives, giving an opportunity to trust each other, meet with themselves and granting a new opportunity to live. Flawlessly written, the Miles Between is a story of a girl finding herself and realizing life itself in her.

1. This book’s got great potential as extracurricular material. It can be used to make dynamics such as:
If you could ask for a just a fair day:

• What would you do?
• How would it be?
• Who would you share it with?

2. If you could have the opportunity Aidan had on meeting X subject, what would you suggest that could change your country for good?

This among other topics. I think that the complexity of being young and some of them being scarred by their particular circumstances in its past allows this book to explore a lot of sad topics in a brilliant, modern way and rich in content without being boring.

Having a cover that figuratively represents a whole story by itself, Hush, Hush became one of those titles with a lot to expect from; sadly after an appealing introduction thanks to the biblical quote and an interesting prologue, the story went decadent for my taste. Hush, Hush begins with a prologue which time frame goes back 445 years from present history. It’s this particular event that will establish the conflict on the first delivery of the series. After these events, the reader will get to know Nora and Patch on their “first” encounter at biology class, where the teacher has decided to switch lab partners by mid April. Nora and Patch’s interactions will be centered in this place with some other external school situations during more than half the story. Nora will discover that someone has been “following” her along with her friend Vee and will try to find the answer to “Who?” while she struggles with her emotional “conflict” for Patch: attraction VS repulsion. There’s supposed to be a battle between the immortal and those that have fallen between everything, but if it did happened, I must have missed it or it must have been summarized with random notes with some secondary character. My problem with this story relies on world developing. In Hush, Hush, the author uses a biblical idea and forges it with a couple of ideas to create a concept, but some details seemed kind of sloppily worked, and I explain:

*Disclaimer: There could be some spoilers.

World Building: What differs angels from simple mortals in this story? It establishes that Patch had an angel girlfriend as well. What factor determines which the good angels are and who can judge them? There’s a moment when Patch rips the wings from an angel and I asked myself: “with what authority?” He was the fallen angel and was not in position of doing that job, but the problem is, where is this group’s hierarchy? Where are the laws that rule them and the base of it? Patch’s past story and why he lost his wings remained summarized to seeing a woman on earth and falling in love. We really don’t know if this relationship flourished to another level, if they interacted, the only detail we had on this girl was that she was made of mold. It is sad that the fallen angel story got to be so trivial in this first delivery. At the end of the book, Patch recovers his wings, but he’s on the same position from where he lost them: being in love with a mortal. Please explain how he will not lose his wings immediately again?

Morality: Aside from all of this, I still don’t find anything sexy to this end of destructive relationships, the guy plays mind games with the girl to a point of whipping out knives and confusing her (just to mention one situation), but the girl’s reaction is kissing him and get carried away instead of calling 911. I grew up in a home with a physical and mental aggressor (my father), and my mom could say there’s nothing sexy on a man whipping out knives. For me, it is not sexy, sensual or a proof of a great love. “I wanted to kill you, but I didn’t, see how much I love you?”

If the world building were to be developed according to the story’s synopsis and the character’s relationships were driven in a less manipulative and unhealthy way, it could have been a hit for me, sadly it was not. Finally could someone tell me why it is called Hush Hush, since I couldn’t find any reference in the story.

 

To my understanding as an educator, Biology class was a mess, simply because dynamics are unreal and the concept it was driven by is not justifiable. Looks more like Health class than Biology.

In a time where so many stories carry the “mortal and immortal” element, The Pace distinguishes itself by knotting two topics that have been debated and constantly separated: science and X spiritual themes. Who said both couldn’t get along? Certainly not Shorts, who has gotten them together in order to create a novel that involve elements like: suspense, mystery and romance.  The story’s narrated by Sophie after moving to California with her mother. There she meets Weston and thanks to this her life and “existence” take a new meaning. Sophie’s character is molded in a delightful way since there is a truthful balance in her personality.  Unlike other “heroines” we are finding in this subdivision, she is decided, says what she thinks, not afraid to ask for explanations or giving ultimatums, but most surprisingly, she knows when to stop feeling sorry and move on.  On the other side, we have Weston, a handsome boy, intelligent, adorable and does not keep a single secret, but several. As a vivid reader, I could appreciate that a pattern I have been observing in this category is broken and the author creates something new, interesting and captivating. For instance, the couple gets to know themselves in a peculiar situation, not on scholastic environment since each attend different academic grades; Sophie studies with an online program and Weston goes to college (not Biology class … Yes!). Readers will have the opportunity to see the relationship blossom, and by this I mean Shorts does not exclude the couple’s dating process and does not limit it to the main character’s room (Thank You!).  The complexity of Weston’s emotions towards Sophie is much emotionally deep, tender and loving than just attempting to: eat her, sacrifice her or kill her. This is the character’s charm and bright.  These factors, instead of making the story less interesting, can be outstanding and involve readers in its mystery that will be unveiled further on.  In order to know who Weston is, how can he be an “immortal” and what role Sophie plays in this complex situation, make sure you read The Pace, a novel where science, love, destiny and time pace are tied in a magnificent way.

 

Although the story does not have educational elements, there are two aspects worth to be mentioned: the author is a professional educator. The way Sophie takes her academic studies and the reason for this change enables youngsters to see that education’s not limited and there are different choices to achieve them.

The Siren is an exquisite and beautiful story.  If I could describe the novel with only one word it will be:  perfection.  The main character Kahlen is a lovely girl that you as a reader can’t help but love her.  Learning her story, how she became a siren and the consequences to be this magnificent creature are amazing and a little bit sad.  Kahlen got a second chance after “dying” in 1921 but her second chance came with a price:  giving up on everything she desires and loves.  The deal is a century of servitude to the Ocean and helps “her” to lure unsuspecting victims to their watery deaths with her voice and exceptional beauty. With the story beginning with Kahlan as a siren the reader already will know her story little by little like completing a puzzle.  You get to know how she becomes a siren, how she feels towards her decision years later and how she feels in a word that is not her place anymore.  The second part of the book is the romance between Kahlen and Akinli.  What a love story! I must say this: Cass knows how to write a beautiful love story.  Akinly, the love interest is a perfect gentleman and Kahlen lost half. How they figure out each other is lovely, sweet, tender and everything you dream in a love story.      One of the aspects that I liked most about the story is the character developing; even the second characters are very good developed and through Kahlen eyes you get to know them and feel the same complexity of emotions Kahlen has toward them.  The second characters play important roles in the story until the very end.  Even though this book is about a siren and a fantasy story, which makes it outstanding and brilliant for the singularity of human emotions that portrait; love, lost, depression, happiness, sorrow, The Siren is about life itself.  I could say I lived the whole story as I read it and made me feel all emotions that it unleashed. The Siren is a book that will stay in your heart and you will never forget about, it’s exceptionally well written and beautiful.

 

Even though this book doesn’t have precise educative topics, I understand that some parts of it can serve as alternate reading about decisions and consequences (pros and cons). A singular detail I’ve observed as an educator is that in a real world where youngsters confuse love with sexual intimacy, this story can be recommended to all of those youngsters that would like to read a beautiful romance story where there outshines a quote I love: “Love never falls in ruins”  (1 Corinthians 13).