Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber

Title: Death By Bikini
Author: Linda Gerber
ISBN: 9780142411179
Publisher: Sleuth Speak

Summary:
"Aphra Behn Connolly has the type of life most teenage girls envy. She lives on a tropical island and spends most of her time eavesdropping on the rich and famous. The problem is that her family's secluded luxury resort allows few opportunities to make friends - much less to meet cute boys.

So when smoldering Seth Mulo unexpectedly arrives with his parents, she's immediately drawn to him. Then a girl turns up dead on the beach the strings of her bikini top tight around her neck - and alarm bells sound. What exactly are Seth and his family hiding? And is it too great a coincidence that they turned up just one day before a murder?

As the plot thickens, Aphra finds that danger lurks behind even the most unexpected of faces..."
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Review:

There just aren't enough good who-done-it (new) mysteries in the YA lit world. This book made me wish for more titles like it - the whole suspenseful murder mystery. I really enjoyed this story - straight to the end!

There is enough of a little romantic interest to get girls interested in this book - if the whole suspense and such doesn't draw them in. The story is solid, if not a little predictable. I didn't mind the predictability so much because the story was crafted so well.

My guess is that guys wouldn't like this one (if nothing more than just the cover!), but I'm definitely handing it to girls of any age. This one will actually work for any grades 7-12. The upper end might want to look toward adult fic to find more hardcore mysteries. This one is a great starting place though!!

Other blog reviews: Here, here, and here.

The Season by Sarah MacLean

Title: The Season

Author: Sarah MacLean

ISBN: 9780545048866

Publisher: Orchard Books

Summary:

"Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Stafford doesn't fit into the world of Regency London - she's strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and she absolutely loathes dress fittings. Unfortunately, her mother has been waiting for years for Alex to be old enough to take part in the social whirlwind of a London season so she can be married off to someone safe, respectable, wealthy, and almost certainly boring. But Alex is much more interested in adventure than romance.

Between sumptuous balls, lavish dinner parties, and country weekends, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get entangled in her biggest scrape yet. When the Earl of Blackmoor is killed in a puzzling accident, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover espionage, murder, and suspicion. As she and Gavin grow closer, will Alex''s heart be stolen in the process?

Romance and danger fill the air, as this year's season begins!"

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Review:

For me, this book was the perfect historical fiction book for teens. I mean, it's got it all, really... balls, boys, gowns, love, murder, and more. The story takes place in London at the start of Alex's first season. I almost immediately loved the character of Alex - being so intellectual and not fitting in to her society. And the characters of her brothers and her best friends keep the book lively and fun. They do all seem a bit more modern than their set time period indicates, but that will keep readers interested.

I'm definitely recommending this book to teens who love historical fiction. It's a fun story with plenty of intrigue. Older readers might find the one-story-line thing a bit irritating. I was waiting for one of the friends or brothers to have some sort of love interest or issue or something... but it never happened. The one story you DO get is great, don't get me wrong. I was just wanting a little more meat in the background. I do have to say that the romance in this book is enough to make any girl swoon :). Great for any romance lovers!

Also, I paused at the several mentions of gothic literature - like Pride and Prejudice. It made me look up to see when it was published to make sure they could have read it in that time period... which is cutting it a little close, by the way. So, I dunno if all the logistics are right, but it will certainly appeal to teens (and possibly get them interested in other historical stuff).

As always, I send you to other reviews: Here, here, and here. There are lots of other reviews as well, so google away :).

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson

Title: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

Author: James Patterson

ISBN: 9780316002929

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Summary:

"HE WAS BORN WITH GREAT POWER

The greatest superpower of all isn't to be part spider, part man, or to cast magic spells - the greatest power is the power to create. Daniel X has that power.

AND A DEADLY SECRET

Daniel's secret abilities - like being able to manipulate objects and animals with his mind or to re-create himself in any shape he chooses - have helped him survive. but Daniel doesn't have a normal life. He is the protector of Earth, the Alien Hunter, with a mission beyond anyone's imagining.

NOW THE FATE OF THE WORLD RESTS ON DANIEL X

From the day that his parents were brutally murdered before his very eyes, Daniel has used his unique gifts to hunt down their assassin. Finally, with the help of The List, bequeathed to him in his parents' dying breath, he is closing in on the killer. Now, on his own, he vows to carry out his father's mission - and to take vengeance in the process.

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Review:

I've never read any of Patterson's adult books, but he's done a great job in the YA genre (well, he and whoever he is collaborating with). I've read - and loved - his Maximum Ride series and was a little wary to pick up another of his books. But I'm so glad I did!

This book is perfect for the middle reader that is trying to get into YA stuff. Dare I even say the "reluctant reader." Guys will love this one - I mean, come on... aliens taking over the universe... and they're all bugs?! How much better can it get?

I'll definitely be recommending this to kids who are looking for adventure or science fiction. This is absolutely a quick read for anyone who does a lot of reading... so perhaps not the best for the older, more experienced reader (though, it's such a fun story, almost anyone could get into it).

It's absolutely set up for sequels, and I think the next one is due to come out later this year. Keep your eyes open for it!!

There are other reviews online, per usual: Here, here, and here.

Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi

Title: Gamer Girl

Author: Mari Mancusi

ISBN: 9780525479956

Publisher: Dutton Children's Books

Summary:

"ZOMG, IT ROX TO BE A GAMER GIRL!

Maddy's life: not so rockin'. Her parents split, she's stuck in a new, small town at a school full of Aberzombies and Haters, she has a crush on someone she really shouldn't like, and she's stuck with the nickname Freak Girl. Sometimes it's enough to retreat into her drawing - her manga is totally important to her - but when she gets Fields of Fantasy for her birthday, she knows she's found the one place she can be herself. In the game world, Maddy can transtorm from regular outcast high school studen to Allora, a beautiful Elfin princess with magical powers to take down enemies with a snap of her fingers and wave of her wand.

As Allora, Maddy's virtual life is perfect, and she even finds a little romance. But a real gamer girl understands that real life comes first - Maddy can't escape from her IRL problems. She has to find ways to kick back at the Haters, rock her manga, and find the new, real-life friends she knows she deserves."

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Review:

This book was so fun! I really got excited to read this book when I read the summary and all. It just sounds like such an original story! And it definitely was that... in that the idea was original - even if the execution wasn't (original, that is).

It's absolutely a girly YA book that has all the makings of "chick lit." And I think this book can go for just about any age. The topics - like manga, online gaming, etc - are really up to date and just about any teen/tween can probably relate. I almost wish the story had been longer so I could have kept myself in that world for a little longer.

I do have to warn you that the ending is very, very predictable. Enough so that you can see it coming from almost the beginning. But that makes it a fun and almost drama-free read. So I would say that it's on the lighter side of YA fic, but that's a really good thing sometimes.

There are plenty of other people who agree with me :). See? Here, here, and here.

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

Title: Catcher in the Rye
Author: JD Salinger
ISBN: 9780316769174
Publisher: Back Bay Books

Summary:
"Since his debut in 1951 as The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has been synonymous with "cynical adolescent." Holden narrates the story of a couple of days in his sixteen-year-old life, just after he's been expelled from prep school, in a slang that sounds edgy even today and keeps this novel on banned book lists.

His constant wry observations about what he encounters, from teachers to phonies (the two of course are not mutually exclusive) capture the essence of the eternal teenage experience of alienation."
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Review:

For whatever reason, I had never read this book until now. I know, I know... as a YA Librarian I should have read this, like, ten years ago. But I just got around to reading it. I've heard so many wonderful reviews and thoughts on this book - and outrage about it being challenged/banned/etc. So I finally picked it up and got through it.

But my thoughts aren't really as positive as others that I've read and heard. The thing is... I just like more action in stories I read. This book TALKS about action... about what has happened, what will happen... but very little actually DOES happen in this story. I mean, I do see why it's good for classes and study and such. I really do. I can imagine lots of things coming from this book being great for discussion. I just dunno that picking it up for a fun read is such a great plan.

I don't want to deter anyone from reading it - because I think it's good for many, many people. It just wasn't my cup of tea. The main character does speak very frankly and says just about everything that comes to him - that's where most of the controversy and enjoyment comes from. Can I say again that I do think it's a good book for classroom settings?

There are plenty of other opinions out there: Here, here, here, and here.