Contaminated

This is for those of you who love zombie books! This quick read, Contaminated, by Em Garner is about strong Velvet Ellis who has been left to raise her little sister, Opal, when their parents are affected by an epidemic that alters peoples' genes. The epidemic was first thought to be caused by contaminated water used in a popular protein-based weightloss drink. The beginning of the story finds Velvet looking for her mom at a kennel - a place the contaminated zombie-like people called Connies are held until a family member claims them. All Connies released back into public are fitted with a collar that is supposed to shock them into calmness so they don't get violent. The general public is unaccepting of the released Connies; thus, Velvet and Opal soon find themselves kicked out of their government-aided housing unit. Everything appears to be hopeless as Velvet continues to face adversity until her mom starts to show signs of understanding and Velvet meets a caring teen who is determined to help them. Definitely see a book two coming...

Rot & Ruin

I usually don't read horror novels, but Jonathan Maberry's Rot & Ruin is on the Texas Lone Star Reading List 2012 and the students at my school who have read it absolutely love it. This is labeled as YA (Young Adult) and portrays the violence that exists in an apocalyptic world where the dead rise again as human hungry zombies unless killed in a specific manner. Although that may be the initial draw to the story for readers, it is the emotional storyline, well-developed characters, and representation of our human need for meaningful relationships that makes me want to read the next book. Fourteen years have passed since First Night – the night that dying people rose from the dead as zombies…the night Benny Imura, just a toddler, was saved by his older brother, Tommy. Benny remembers seeing his mother scream and their zombie father attacking her while Tommy was running away with him. Benny has never understood how Tommy, now a respected Zombie Hunter, could have acted so cowardly that fateful night. Although he has very little respect for Tommy, he agrees to learn his brother’s business – ending zoms’ lives once and for all. Tommy teaches Benny to remember that the zoms were once someone’s loved ones and deserve to be at peace. Despite Tommy’s lessons, Benny idolizes Charlie Matthias and his sidekick, Marion Hammer – two tough guys who control the area – they are the real heroes to Benny. When Benny and his friends collect the most recent Zombie Cards (one of the limited forms of entertainment for the teens) to add to their collection, Benny stumbles upon the card of The Lost Girl. Things begin to spiral out of control, people who matter to the brothers are killed and Benny’s good friend, Nix, is kidnapped and will be forced to compete in Gameland – a place where young kids are forced to fight zombies for others’ entertainment. This book had me cringing, cheering, and at times crying – I loved the characters and their determination to survive. Book 2 is Dust and Decay. Recommended for 8th grade and up. Click on the video below to hear Jonathan Maberry tell you more about his amazing book.

This Dark Endeavor

Ever wonder how Frankenstein came to be? Talented author, Kenneth Oppel, creatively gives his readers a prelude to the monster Frankenstein in This Dark Endeavor. Victor Frankenstein and his high-achieving twin brother, Konrad, love to fence and play make believe with their distant cousin, Elizabeth, who lives with their family at Chateau Frankenstein. Although the twins are identical, Konrad has always been better than Victor at everything they do. When Elizabeth accidentally opens the secret doorway to the Dark Library in the estate, Victor becomes enchanted with the books about apothecary and alchemy. His interest peaks when his father catches them and forbids them from entering the library again. When Konrad becomes bedridden with a mysterious illness that no doctor can find a cure for, Victor decides to find the answer in the forbidden Library. When he finds a mysterious burned book that holds the secret Elixir of Life, he recruits Elizabeth and his friend, Henry, to help him find the one man in the village who can help them read it. Will they end up sacrificing everything to obtain the cure for Konrad? Will the jealousy Victor feels over Konrad's and Elizabeth's relationship affect their journey to find the one thing that may be able to help Konrad? This dark, chilling tale will keep readers turning the page for more. Other great books by Oppel include Airborn,Darkwing, Firewing, Silverwing, Skybreaker, and Starclimber.

Dark Eden

Patrick Carman has creatively infused technology and reading in his newest series - Skeleton Creek, Trackers, and Dark Eden. Before I started reading Dark Eden, I downloaded and explored the free app (the first segment is free). Dark Eden is different from the Skeleton Creek and Trackers series which are told with both video and text. Dark Eden is narrated by 15-year-old Ben, who like six other teens has a debilitating fear. The teens are sent by their therapist, Dr. Stevens, to Fort Eden to face their fears and be cured. Prior to going to Fort Eden, Ben was able to steal the files that Dr. Stevens had one each of the teens. When the teens arrive at Fort Eden, Ben escapes and hides out. He stays in a secret bomb shelter that has monitors which enable him to watch the others, one by one being cured. Based on the files he has read and the video feed he watches on the monitors, he knows something is terribly wrong with the process. As the teens are "cured", they return without their fear, but have other strange ailments. Rainsford, the old man that takes them to their special rooms for their cure, is not what he seems. Dark Eden is the first in the series - the story is told in segments for each of the teens. This was a bit choppy for me and the end seemed rushed, but I think 7th grade and up would love it! Other great books by Patrick Carman include Things that Go Bump in the Night, Thirteen Days to Midnight, The Land of Elyon series, Atherton series, Skeleton Creek series, and Trackers series.

The Gathering

The students at my middle school love Kelley Armstrong’s Darkest Powers Trilogy: The Summoning, The Awakening, and The Reckoning. So, I couldn’t wait to read her most recent book - The Gathering – the first book in her Darkness Rising trilogy which ties into a supernatural Native American theme. In the introduction, Maya, a sixteen-year-old who was adopted by her parents, witnesses her best friend, Serena, drown. Maya wonders how Serena, captain of the swim team, could have died this way. Time has passed, but Maya still hasn’t gotten over Serena’s mysterious death. Although Maya and Daniel, Serena’s boyfriend, have always been close, they have a difficult time talking about her. When a new guy, Rafe, moves to their small private community, rumors begin. It seems like Rafe bounces from one girl to the next and is trying to get to know Maya. Although Maya is determined not to be next on his list, she finds herself attracted to him. Maya has the gift of healing animals and even feels what they feel. When her mother takes her to get her birthmark enhanced with a tattoo for her birthday, they meet an elderly woman who lived with the Navajo for many years. The woman fears Maya and calls her a witch. A visitor appears in Maya’s community asking questions concerning Serena. When the visitor turns up dead, Maya and Daniel know they must finally face the unknown. Will Rafe lead Maya to the answers she is looking for? This was an intense read that ultimately leaves you hanging until the next book, The Calling, which will be published in April 2012. This book is appropriate for 8th grade and up.

Sneak Peek of Jason Henderson's Alex Van Helsing Book #2: Voices of the Undead

My students have been eagerly awaiting book 2 in this awesome series. Check out the Read Inside provided by HarperTeen. Voices of the Undead will be published on July 26th.

Reckless

I have to admit that the beginning of Cornelia Funke’s Reckless had me a little confused. Readers you need to just stick with it – you will not be disappointed. Reckless is a perfect mix of horror, fairy tale, fantasy, and adventure. At the beginning of the story we are introduced to two brothers who are aware of a secret, forbidden passage-way that exists through a mirror in their missing father’s office. Over the years rebellious Jacob, the older brother, has left his younger brother, Will, wondering where he is while spending a lot of time in the dangerous world on the other side of the mirror. Twelve years pass when both boys’ lives will be turned upside down. Will, while crossing through the mirror, is tragically clawed by a Goyl. As a result of his injury, Will slowly turns into the Dark Fairy’s most prized possession, the jade Goyl. If Jacob doesn’t find a way to help his brother quickly, he will permanently become a stone creature under the evil Fairy’s power. Jacob with the help of Will’s girlfriend – Clara, a shape-shifting fox, and an untrustworthy dwarf must overcome a variety of wicked creatures, the Red Fairy’s power, and his own personal feelings if he has any chance to save Will. For me, after the first sixty pages this novel read like an action-packed movie. Other great books by Cornelia Funke include The Thief Lord, the Inkheart trilogy, the Ghosthunters series, and Igraine the Brave.

Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising

Vampires, zombies, and Frankenstein…oh my! Jason Henderson’s debut novel, Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising, has all of these and more. Fourteen-year-old Alex Van Helsing has had a rough start at his new all-male Switzerland boarding school. Constantly attracting trouble, Alex’s new roommates are out to sabotage him. His strange literature teacher, Mr. Sangster, teaches the class about the origination of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. In class, the students are intrigued by Alex’s infamous last name which is the same as the popular vampire hunting character in Dracula. As if Alex’s roommates weren’t enough to deal with, he is drawn out of his dorm at night by a vicious vampire. He quickly finds out that the dangers around him come from the Scholomance – the historic school for vampires. Is Mr. Sangster more than just a literature teacher? Can Alex continue his family’s legacy and help a vampire-hunting organization called Polidorium? Read this action packed novel to find out how Jason Henderson does a masterful job of connecting this story with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This is going to be a popular new series for middle school and high school students.

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows (Vol 1)

The Shadows is the first book in Jacqueline West's The Books of Elsewhere series.The first sentence of the book reads: "Ms. McMartin was definitely dead." Olive Dunwoody, the only child of two smart mathematicians, is looking forward to exploring the old house her family has just purchased. You guessed it...this was the very house that Ms. McMartin had died in. The old house is full of antiques and art, so different from the plain apartments they have lived in before. As Olive is looking at one of the paintings, she sees a shadow moving within it. Her eyes must be playing tricks on her! Later she finds spectacles that enable her to travel into the paintings on the wall. She soon discovers a lost boy, talking cats, and dangerous spirits. The original owner of the house, the late Aldous McMartin wants his house back and he will stop at nothing to get it. Although I first labeled this as a fantasy, I quickly changed my mind as it has just enough frightening elements and suspense to make it horror/suspense for upper elementary through middle school. This is on the Texas Bluebonnet Reading List 2011-12. This would be a great recommendation for someone looking for a "scary" book. Check out the book trailer from Penguin Group USA.

Hero

Over the six years I have been the librarian at my school, Mike Lupica’s books have been on our middle school reading list every single year. Yes, he’s that good and my students enjoy his books tremendously. Although he mentions the New York Knicks a lot, he has strayed away from the sports genre to mystery/suspense with his newest novel, Hero. The beginning of the story is narrated by fourteen-year-old Zach Harriman’s father, a hero who worked for the government, but ultimately dies in a plane crash. The story is then narrated by Zach who has doubts about his father’s death being an accident. His father was invincible. Strange things begin to happen to Zach shortly after his father’s death. He begins to have special powers which enable him to sense danger and fight off attackers. With the help of his good friend, Kate, Zach sets out to find answers about his father’s past. In doing so, he must decide who can be trusted in his life. Will Zach be the hero his father was? Other great reads by Mike Lupica include Million Dollar Throw, The Big Field, Travel Team, Miracle on 49th Street, Summer Ball, and Heat.

The House of Dead Maids

The House of Dead Maids, by Clare B. Dunkle, is a must read for anyone who likes scary books. This quick read is an introduction to the classic Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Although I usually don’t like to read scary books, I could not put this book down. The intriguing storyline told with rich vocabulary and interesting characters had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. At the beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to Tabby Aykroyd who has been taken from a knitting school to work as a young maid at Seldom House in a small, odd village. The first night she spends there, she knows another young maid was sleeping in the bed with her. The next morning no one will answer her questions about who that person was. She quickly realizes that this is no person, but the ghost of the previous young maid trying to communicate with her. Shortly after, she is introduced to the old master, Jack Ketch, and the little boy he has paid money to bring home as well. The little boy doesn’t have a Christian name and has no manners or understanding of the appropriate way to behave. Nonetheless, Tabby works to take care of the little boy and tries to teach him how to become a better person. He can see many ghosts – the dead in the village do not rest. Tabby soon realizes the horrifying purpose that she and the boy are to serve at Seldom House. This haunting tale will take you to another period of history in Yorkshire, England and make you eager to read Wuthering Heights. Watch the trailer below – be ready to be scared!