Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Who doesn't like a good gothic cursed romantic novel?  I guess I do.  This is a girly book.  I enjoyed it. The idea is borrowed from the Dorian Gray novel.  This has fun elements to make it a page turner.  If you just need a quick read, enjoy this book.

Green Witch by Alice Hoffman

I wish I could write like this book.  This is my first reading of Alice Hoffman.  I know she wrote Practical Magic which is on my to read list.  You don't need to read the first book to understand what is going on.  I read it in two hours if that.  The writing is hauntingly beautiful.  The story line  drives you to read more as you meet people and hear their stories.  All the elements for a good story.  I look forward to sharing this books with my students.

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

When I read this story, I ended up caring for the three main characters and for a few of the support characters.  When one of the main characters did something wrong, I was actually disappointed in the character and had to wait a few days before I could read on.  Loved the story and was easy for me to visualize the streets and characters because of the descriptive writing.  Would recommend it to those who love reading a good tale and an amazing mystery.

The Enchanted Quest by Frewin Jones Book Five of the Faerie Path

Fun read of adventure, romance, magic and a blend of old world and modern world. It's a series that is fun to read.  Sometimes after reading some heavier novels, it's nice to go to a different world and believe in a little magic.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

This is the third fractured contemporary fairy tale book I have read by Alex Flinn.  She's becoming one of my favorite authors in this genre.  I enjoyed it.  Took me a day to read.  What I liked was the dialogue was fun and realistic in a magical setting.  Not to heavy on the fairy tale magic.  She blends a few fairy tales together to spin an entertaining story.  Highly recommend this for a enjoyable read.

Jade Green: A Ghost Story by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Told as a gothic ghost story, be prepared to spend a rainy afternoon reading this book.  It works, you know what's going to happen but you just have to keep reading.  This story has all the perfect elements of a classic gothic novel, our poor orphan, a kind uncle, the thoughtful housekeeper and the older cousin.  Romance, mystery, drama and a ghost story, makes this an entertaining read.

Enchanted by Althea Kontis

I read this in a day.  I grew up with European fairytales.  I enjoyed guessing which fairy tale was being incorporated in to the story and then delighted at being unable to predict events in the story.

The Final Four by Paul Volponi

I LOVE basketball!  This is an intense book and enjoyable read.  You fall for each character when you read their stories.  One is from Croatia, another loses his sister from a drive by shooting.  And imagine the challenge of having the name of Michael Jordan and having to play basketball and always be associated with the other more famous one.  Great read.  If you like sports this is the book for you.

UnWholly by Neil Shusterman

This is the sequel to UnWind.  Both books are excellent.  I read UnWind in a day.  This is so good, plus I'm working and it's taking longer to read.  One of the reasons that it's taking longer is that I have to think about what I just read.  Shusterman is brilliant!  You will not be disappointed. The characters are strong and solid.  The believability, spot on.

Imagine you are 15 years old.  Now imagine the adults wanting to harvest you for parts.  It's a crazy world. If you are not a reader, you will be after reading Neil Shusterman.  He gets better every year.  A writer worth watching.

The Astonishing life of Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation: The Pox Party by M. T. Anderson

This story was chilling.  Hard to read in a good kind of way.  M.T. Anderson was brilliant! The story is woven with facts and fiction, emotion and logic.  It is strange and insane and yet you must keep reading.  When you finish reading, it stays with you.  Go back to before the American Revolution, and see what was done in the name of science.

The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle

A historical novel told in multiple perspectives in free verse.  Read it in an hour and learned so much.

Part history, part fictionalized this story brought alive with facts, emotions a little known important person in history.  Crafted with thought and care, this work is solid and expressive.  I want fireflies lighting my way at night also.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

I loved this book.  The main character is a young girl who happens to be a bit smaller then the rest of her peers.  There's a competition for the chance to marry the prince.  The girls of this mountain are the joke of the country because they are simple people with out a traditional scholarly education.  But that all changes.

Who knows what an education can do for you!

Great book for girls of all ages.