Need by Carrie Jones

OK, I know I'm going to get destroyed for this, but I'm just going to say it: I'm sick of Twilight. There. It's out there. I'm really happy a series was created that got so many people to read, but I'm over it! Unlike Miss Karson, I just couldn't get into it. Bella was just too wimpy for me, each book was about 200 pages too long....I'm going to stop now before you all kill me.

My point is...many of my students can't seem to find anything that compares to the Twilight series. Edward is just soooo dreamy, and sparkly, and....perfect. If you are in this boat, please read Need by Carrie Jones. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but notice some parallels between the stories, yet it wasn't in a way that seemed like it was plagiarism, namely because there's not a vampire in sight. Let me explain.

As we meet our main character Zara, she is headed from her home in sunny Charleston to live with her Gram in chilly Maine (Forks, anyone?). Her mother has sent her to try to snap her out of the depression she fell into after the death of her stepfather. Her Gram (loved her, BTW) is a spunky character who brings a lot of life to the story. After starting at school, she meets a hunky guy Nick who just seems different from other guys (ahem, Edward, ahem), and who seems to take an immediate interest in Zara.

The author creates a creepy mood immediately by introducing us to a strange man who seems to be stalking Zara. She saw him outside the window just before her father's heart attack, at the airport, and now outside of her school. Who is this creepy man, and what does he want with her? Does he have anything to do with the boy who just went missing? Is he connected with the string of kidnappings that occurred years before?

We also quickly learn that the people in this town are not exactly what they seem. The author introduces wares and pixies in such a believable way. Yes, pixies, and we aren't talking Tinkerbell kids. These pixies are power hungry killers! (Dun dun dun!) Zara and her friends set out on a quest to learn more about the Pixie King so that he may be defeated. Although I wasn't completely satisfied by the ending, it is well worth the read. The author expects to have the sequel out in December, and promises at least a third book after that.

I can't wait to hear what you guys think about this one!

Wake by Lisa McMann

Janie is a not-so-typical seventeen-year-old girl. While her friends are worried about dates and other typical teen problems, Janie's issues are much bigger. First, she is being raised by her single mother who can barely take care of herself. In between cleaning the house, working to pay the bills, and trying to maintain the grades necessary to get her out of her current environment, Janie is attempting to understand a very inconvenient power she has: falling into other people's dreams.

This strange skill has been present for as long as she can remember. Anytime someone nearby falls asleep, whether it's on the bus, at a slumber party, or in class, Janie is sucked into their dreams. Sometimes these trips border on humorous, such as the recurring nightmare of the school's jock, who always falls asleep in class and dreams he's naked on the football field. Other times she witnesses the nightmares of those she's surrounded by. The more violent the dream, the more exhausting the experience is for Jamie. For anyone who is around at the time, Janie's physical reaction mirrors a seizure, and when she finally wakes up, she is mentally and physically drained.

Up until this point, her ability has been more of a nuisance than anything else. She avoids slumber parties (it's just too exhausting to witness all of the dreams all night), long bus rides, and any other situation where someone might fall asleep. Things take a turn towards the dangerous when Janie has an episode in her car. While sitting at a light, Janie is sucked into the violent and demented dream of someone sleeping in a nearby house. At this point, Janie becomes a participant instead of simply an observer, and she realizes that sometimes dreams become reality.

This book was a really quick read. It was part mystery, part supernatural, and part suspense. Although the main character is a girl, it is definitely not a girly book!

PS: If you enjoy this book, check out the sequel: Fade. In the second novel, Janie's powers are put to the test when she must help police investigate a possible predator. After receiving an anonymous tip, the force is fairly certain that he is a teacher at school. Janie must intentionally put herself into the dreams of others to see if she can learn anything about the suspect and victims. We also learn a lot more about Janie's gift, and the irreversible damage it could be causing her.

Welcome!

Wooo! You found me!

I have spent the last eight years teaching language arts in a small town in Ohio. Several years ago my best friend/coworker/coffee addict/omelet maker extraordinaire Karson Reed and I began combining our classes for monthly book talks. During these talks, we each took turns recommending a total of twelve books to our kids. We also cracked jokes, acted things out, and were basically shameless in our presentation. We did our best to find the best new books for our kids, and we loved the fact that so many kids got excited about reading...not always the top priority for the fourteen year old crowd!

Karson moved to North Carolina (thanks a lot Chad Reed), but we each continued to book talk in our separate schools. We both found that we missed hearing about the books the other was reading, so we decided a blog would be a great way to keep each other (and everyone else) current on what we are reading. Although nothing can replace our comedy routine when we're together (at least we think we're funny), this is the next best thing.

Please check out both of our blogs frequently for the latest in YA literature! Karson and I have very different tastes in what we read, so between us we cover quite a bit. If you read one of the books mentioned, please feel free to leave your honest opinion. I always tell my students, "I didn't write the book, so it won't hurt my feelings if you hate it." Knowing what's well received helps us to find more great stuff!

Happy reading!

Meghan
aka Mrs. Philpot