Missing, Presumed Dead
by Emma Berquist
Publisher: Greenwillow/HarperCollins
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD is a thrilling murder mystery about high school dropout, Alexandra “Lexi” Ivanovich, who teams up with a recently killed ghost, Jane Morris. Jane was murdered at the bar Lexi works at, but doesn’t remember who killed her and why. What Lexi is surprised by, however, is that Jane is not the only stabbing victim who went missing in the last month: Urie, Lexi’s boss, worries that they have a serial killer on their hands, who’s using their bar club as a slaughtering ground.
However, Lexi’s abilities branch far beyond just seeing ghosts: she can also see how and when people die just at a touch. Overwhelmed with the guilt that she had seen Jane’s death before it actually happened and couldn’t stop it, Lexi tries to help Jane find her killer before he harms anyone else. What follows is an exciting mystery/ghost story with a hefty dose of honesty, humor, and romance.
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was extremely creative and the story flowed so well, I wasn’t even paying attention to how far along in the book I was. Berquist does an especially great job with the characters, as they were not only complex in their own ways, but very likable and fun to read about! I highly recommend this book to mystery, romance, and horror fans alike. (A slight gore warning, but nothing too severe.)
Killing November
by Adriana Mather
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
KILLING NOVEMBER is a thrilling murder mystery that revolves around our heroine, November, a happy-go-lucky small town girl who gets thrown into a world of murderers, assassins, and all-around tricksters when she wakes up at the elite Academy Absconditi boarding school. Completely out of her element in a school where violence and deception are key, November’s life gets thrown even more off balance when she discovers a murdered student on campus. With the help of her uptight roommate and said roommate’s smooth-mouthed brother, November sets off to figure out who the killer really is, while simultaneously uncovering her suspiciously secretive heritage. Unfortunately, November’s suspect list is unbearably high, every student seemingly having a bone to pick with our energetic heroine. With no contact to the outside world, including her beloved father, November hopes that she can solve this murder before she winds up next on the killer’s list.
Regarding the overall plot, KILLING NOVEMBER definitely has a lot going on. I mean, it’s not impossible to follow or anything, but it moves very fast, and my opinions of characters were constantly changing throughout the book. However, that’s what is so fun about it: the twists and turns keep the story fresh and alive up until the very end! I’m trying not to spoil anything here, so let’s just say that if you like murder mysteries, drama, assassins, or even just interesting characters, you should take a peek at KILLING NOVEMBER, stay for a couple pages, and then decide if it’s something you want to invest in! I really do recommend giving this one a read, I definitely enjoyed it.
The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe
by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
THE LAST VOYAGE OF POE BLYTHE takes place a while after Poe’s first voyage, where Raiders killed someone she loved. Since then, she has developed armor and weapons for the Admiral with the sole purpose of killing Raiders as efficiently as possible. But when the Admiral sends her out on another mission, things go horribly wrong, leading her to suspect each and every one of her crew. I really enjoyed this book. It has sort of a steampunk, post-disaster theme that differs from a natural disaster or alien invasion. This book is more of a mystery book than anything else, as each chapter gives insight as to what each crew member was doing, causing you to evaluate and reevaluate each of the crew. However, towards the end, the story jumps to an ending that I thought came out of nowhere.
The Agony House
by Cherie Priest
Illustrated by Tara O'Connor
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: September 25, 2018
THE AGONY HOUSE written by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Tara O’Connor initially attracted me because of Priest’s previous work I AM PRINCESS X. Once again I find Priest and O’Connor make expert use of integrating illustration to add dimension and mystery in duality to richly written characters and settings. Despite them being similar in that aspect, THE AGONY HOUSE is wholly its own in story and structure. Denise and her family move back to New Orleans to fix up an old, run-down house in hopes of making a small bed and breakfast with what little savings they’ve got. As they begin renovations, strange occurrences lead Denise to suspect supernatural presence. When she discovers an old manuscript for the unpublished comic, Lucinda Might, in the attic she can no longer deny the connection between her house and the comic book. Throughout the novel she acquires a cast of friends and begins to uncover the secrets within the “agony house” are far more sinister than she could have imagined.
Despite Denise’s optimistic, light, often sarcastic demeanor, the story, aided heavily by the comic drawings, is able to maintain a spooky, yet not terrifying, tone. While the narrative focuses on the supernatural mystery it also lightly explores her family's economic difficulties, race prejudice in New Orleans, and, in general, Denise’s struggle to fit in in this new, unfamiliar town. By the end you’ll feel satisfied and definitely will want to flip back to the beautifully illustrated comic pages. I’m excited to see what comes next for Cherie Priest as her first two books are simply addictive.
This Splintered Silence
by Kayla Olson
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Lindley Hamilton is the captain of the space station Lusca, a job she’s always wanted but never knew she would get so soon. Now, because of the deadly virus that killed all of the station’s adults including her mother, Lindley must run the ship as their struggle to survive intensifies. Still, Lindley believes that the worst has passed, and while they still must figure out a way to not run out of food and to communicate with Earth, morale remains high. That is, until a member of the surviving second generation dies from what looks like the same virus, the very virus the second generation thought they were immune from. Struggling to survive, Lindley must find a way to save the station before it’s too late, especially when clues point to one of their own being the killer.
Spooky, suspenseful, and powered by an amazing female main character, THIS SPLINTERED SILENCE is not a book to miss. From page one, I was sucked into Lindley’s story. The author blends past and present beautifully together, making everything seem like it's happening in real time. I loved how Olson continued this throughout the book, mentioning memories of Lindley’s mother, a character we never meet but who feels just as well constructed as any other character. This masterful storytelling is also present through the setting of the book, the space station Lusca, and the struggles it faces. Olson builds a well-thought-out world around this little station and makes sure that there are no gaps for plot holes. Everything that she mentions is carefully described and accurate to what people in that position might be dealing with. Often when books are set in space like this one, everything seems beautiful and technologically perfect. But for Lindley and her crew that is not the case, and I feel like this little dash of realism in this sci-fi novel makes it so readers can relate and immerse themselves in the story much better than they might have otherwise.
Throughout the whole book, the characters struggle with real problems while dealing with the space station. Working through these problems are Olson’s cast of characters, each more realistic than the last. At the top of the list is Olson’s main character, Lindley Hamilton. It was hard not to love Lindley from the start. A scientist in her own right, Lindley is the recently-promoted captain of their station, the role her mother used to occupy until a few weeks ago. This is a fact that Lindley doesn’t let readers forget as the story progresses. She does this through subtle things: mentioning her mother’s secret stash of chocolate, and stories about the sky she used to tell Lindley. I love how Olson didn’t do this in a way that was annoying or repetitive. Instead, she does it with grace and sadness, in a way that makes Lindley’s grief feel real. Often when books deal with grief, they force the idea of it down the reader’s throat, but in THIS SPLINTERED SILENCE that is not the case.
If you love realistic-seeming sci-fi where disease and deadly secrets lurk behind every corner, you will not be let down with THIS SPLINTERED SILENCE. This sci-fi thriller is perfect for people looking for a good spooky read.
Broken Things
by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
BROKEN THINGS by Lauren Oliver follows ex-best friends Mia and Brynn as they reconnect five years after the murder of their best friend, Summer. Mia and Brynn were the prime suspects in Summer’s death at the time, but are determined to solve the case years later and prove themselves innocent. The pair decides to dig into their past in order to do this, and the story alternates between their time in high school and the present. BROKEN THINGS was actually more like two books than one: the novel itself, and another story that is twisted into the girls’ relationships and Summer’s death. I loved how this collision between fiction and reality and the connection between past and present heightened the story’s eerie tone. While the actual mystery aspect of the novel seemed predictable at times, the dynamics and tension between Brynn, Summer, and Mia kept me engaged in the story. Overall, BROKEN THINGS is an excellent choice for fans of Oliver, and for readers looking for a captivating thriller.
Sawkill Girls
by Claire Legrand
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: October 18, 2018
SAWKILL GIRLS by Claire Legrand takes place on the quiet island of Sawkill Rock, where the cliffs are high and the tides are crisp. However, the island’s seemingly remote town is not as safe as it seems; girls have been going missing for years, their bodies never found. Newcomer Marion Althouse, having just moved to Sawkill Rock with her sister and mother due to the recent death of her father, is unaware of the ancient mysteries plaguing the island; at least, until she crosses paths with the town’s teenage sweetheart, Val Mortimer, and the Sawkill sheriff’s spunky daughter, Zoey Harlow. Three girls, all completely different. But they have one thing in common—something others would kill for.
SAWKILL GIRLS is by far one of the wildest books I’ve ever read. With a rich plot and complex characters, SAWKILL GIRLS kept me turning each page with anticipation. However, though this book is very well written, it may not be for everyone; be warned that it contains some graphic descriptions of gore and sex, just in case that isn’t your thing. Otherwise, I definitely recommend this book for anybody who would enjoy a chilling mystery with a tinge of horror, or just genuinely likes to get creeped out. With that, I leave you to decide if SAWKILL GIRLS is right for you, and if you do decide to give this book a try, you’re in for real treat. Enjoy!
Easy Prey
by Catherine Lo
Publisher: Amulet
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
EASY PREY by Catherine Lo is a both a modern mystery and thought-provoking story of cyberbullying, sexting, and the victim-blaming mentality of the current era. Based in the small town school of Edgewood High, EASY PREY focuses on the aftermath of a sudden and anonymous release of a teacher’s nude photos. The three suspects in question of releasing said photos are high school seniors Matthew “Mouse” Maguire, Drew Wilson, and Jenna Bradley, each having had plausible motives to do so. In fact, all three took part in acquiring the risqué photos of Ms. Bailey, but who took the joke too far?
Switching back and forth from points of view, EASY PREY gives the reader a detailed insight into the characters and their thoughts, each character being unique within themselves — far more than their labels of the geek, goth and jock. Having had previous knowledge of the effects of nonconsensual releases of nude photos, I was curious as to how this story would interpret the subject. I can now say that I am impressed at how EASY PREY put forth a very accurate and honest description of what happens in circumstances like these, and I definitely recommend giving it a try to see for yourself. Overall, EASY PREY is authentic, callous, and captivating, all whilst keeping up a tense “whodunit” factor up until the very end. As for the shocking ending, I can promise that it is not what you’d expect, and no one is who they seem. (At least, I didn’t see it coming!)
I Am Still Alive
by Kate Marshall
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 24, 2018
I AM STILL ALIVE is a masterfully constructed novel following the life of teenage girl Jess after a series of disastrous events started by the murder of her father leave her stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness. Jess must survive in a foreign land with nothing except a few tools and an ever faithful dog at her side. But Jess is also focused on surviving so that she can enact a revenge plot against the murderer of her father. A survival story plus a revenge plot plus a strong female protagonist. What’s not to like?
With her debut novel, author Kate Marshall is sure to have created a thriller novel that sets the tone for the rest of her career. Jess’s rollercoaster ride of trials and errors kept me fascinated throughout the entirety of the book, and oftentimes I became so entranced with the intricately woven story that I would forget it wasn’t real. The emotions Jess goes through are reflected on the reader, leaving me at times breathless, and at other times, heartbroken. I recommend I AM STILL ALIVE to readers teenaged and older, due to graphic content.
Crossing the Line
by Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 12, 2018
CROSSING THE LINE by Simone Elkeles is a novel written from two different perspectives. One narrator, named Ryan, is a teen who crosses the border from Texas into Mexico to learn to box and to escape his family. The other narrator is named Delilah, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer. When the two meet, they become entangled in a dramatic tale of murder and betrayal set amidst the drug wars of the US/Mexico border.
The double narrative was a pleasant change from the straightforward single narrator of most novels. The author captured both sides of the story well, and the plot was never stagnant. It was a fast-paced and exciting tale of life on the border.
Questions I Want to Ask You
by Michelle Falkoff
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK YOU by Michelle Falkoff is about Patrick "Pack" Walsh, a high school senior. On his eighteenth birthday he recieves a letter from his mother who he thought was dead. This leads Pack to investigate and hunt for his mom. I enjoyed reading this book. There are a few really good plot twists. I liked the characters a lot. Overall, it was a good book that I definitely recommend!
All of This Is True
by Lygia Day Peñaflor
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 15, 2018
When four teenagers befriend their favorite YA author, they don’t suspect that anything will go horribly wrong. Miri Tan just figures that her plan to get to know the author has been successful. Soleil Johnston is happy because the mysterious new boy Jonah Nicholls has started to hang out with them. Penny Panzarella hopes that with their newfound friendship, she can show her school that she is more than just an airhead party girl. Yet things can’t always go your way, and the teens figure that out when author Fatima Ro’s pleas for them to be "transparent" with her turn into her manipulating them so they become the plot of her newest book. And we all know you can’t write a book without a good twist.
This book has so many amazing aspects. For one, it has an amazing method of communicating the story: through "documents" gathered about what happened. These documents include transcripts of interviews, diary entries, and snippets of the book that Fatima wrote on the protagonists. I really enjoyed this because it made you feel a lot like you are actually in the story and experiencing it just like a real scandal is going on.
On to the actual story. At first I was a bit bored. Peñaflor pretty quickly revealed what the big "twist" was that made the group so scandalized. After I read this, I figured what more could they do? But this idea was quickly dismissed in the middle of the book when things began to pick up. This was very interesting because a lot of times when authors reveal the twist too early, the rest of the book feels pale and weak in comparison. In this book, the author did the opposite of that. The author even made it so readers feel almost like they are spoiling the book for themselves through the "excerpts" of Fatima Ro's book.
Another great aspect of this book was the characters. I don’t think I have ever read more relatable characters in a YA book before. The three main girls were all book nerds in love with YA (which many readers could relate to) who each have different distinct teen personalities from the suck up, to the victim, and the one who just wants to fit in.
Overall, I recommend this book for fans of ILLUMINAE because even if they are not in the same genre, they utilize similar methods of storytelling. Also, this book is best for teenagers because of references to rape and mild violence.
A Lite Too Bright
by Samuel Miller
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 8, 2018
A LITE TOO BRIGHT by Samuel Miller is the story of Arthur Louis Pullman the Third. Arthur’s grandfather was an author and his only book became one of the most famous books ever written. But five years before Arthur the Third’s story takes place, his famous grandfather, severely disabled by dementia, sets off on a bizarre trip across the United States and turns up dead two thousand miles from where he began. At the beginning of the novel, Arthur Louis Pullman the Third discovers a clue left for him by his grandfather and begins on an adventure that would finally teach him the truth behind his grandfather’s life.
Miller’s debut novel was a delight; equal parts charming, intriguing, thrilling, and puzzling. Arthur’s journey is fast-paced and exciting, and Miller’s writing is extraordinary. Often incorporating bits of writing from the style of Arthur’s grandfather, Miller’s skillful writing pulled me in and kept me interested. The settings of the places Arthur visits are described so vividly, I felt like I was there with him. A LITE TOO BRIGHT is a figurative journey inside a literal journey, and Miller executes the story to perfection. In addition, the themes discussed in this novel are powerful and immensely meaningful, such as loss, healing, family, friendship. For any readers interested in mysteries, adventure, or just really good writing, A LITE TOO BRIGHT is a must read!
The Window
by Amelia Brunskill
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: April 3, 2018
When Jess’s twin sister, Anna, dies suddenly, everyone from her parents to the police are all too willing to write it off as a tragic accident. But Jess knows something else was going on that night. Jess knows she is being lied to. She decides to investigate the night of Anna’s death herself. As Jess learns more about the truth, she begins to question if she really knew Anna at all.
THE WINDOW traces the sickening downward spiral of a teen girl whose demons are invisible to everyone else in her life. The plot is steeped in sex, drinking, rule-breaking, and general teenage recklessness. This guarantees that readers won’t be able to put it down. Although the author resorts to the occasional clichéd turn of phrase, the thrilling, rapid-fire plot twists more than make up for it. Ultimately, THE WINDOW ends up as more of a soap opera than the layered psychological thriller that Brunskill was going for; but it’s still certainly worth reading for anyone in the mood for a novel with secrets, melodrama, heartbreak, and sinister undertones.
Not if I Save You First
by Ally Carter
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
NOT IF I SAVE YOU FIRST by Ally Carter is about a 16 year old named Maddie, who was friends the President's son, Logan. Maddie moves suddenly to Alaska after an incident involving her dad at the White House. For 6 years she has been writing letters to Logan but he never responds. Then Logan's dad decides to send him to Alaska, where he is kidnapped and Maddie has to find him. I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and the plot never faltered; I couldn't stop reading! I highly recommend it.
Truly Devious
by Maureen Johnson
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 16, 2018
TRULY DEVIOUS is about murder and a girl. Not murder of a girl, or at least not the main character. Stevie Bell, a “true-crime aficionado" has never stood over a dead body in her life. But she has wanted to for a long time. She gets her chance a few months into her first semester at Ellingham Academy, a famous private school. ...Famous for exceptionally bright, genius-like students, and an unsolved accident involving a kidnapping and quite a few blunt objects. Stevie Bell wants to figure out exactly what happened.
I liked TRULY DEVIOUS, because I like hidden things and big twists and awesome women. Pix and Stevie and Vi all remind me of different aspects of myself. I think I’d want to go to Ellingham despite the murder, because I liked the way things are run. The faculty all seem very nice and understanding, but completely miss out on figuring out the murder, and it seemed kind of funny that it took a high school student to figure it out. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the past. I actually liked the current characters less than the precurrent characters; the precurrent characters seemed more alive to me.
R.I.P. Eliza Hart
by Alyssa Sheinmel
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: November 28, 2017
Do I have a thing for odd, broken ladies named Sokoloff? From my last reviewed book, GENUINE FRAUD, I went right to this one. R.I.P ELIZA HART is about two misunderstood and mentally “sick” girls, both of whom seem to hate the other. One of them is a “mean girl,” the other is a “freak.” It is a whodunit, except you find out at the end…Eliza Hart is not perfect in any way.
This book was a bit sadder and a bit more beautiful than GENUINE FRAUD, although the slow reveal and deep twists were similar. I liked the tree burl thieves – I liked that their official “crime” was just maybe less of a true crime than you might expect. Mack and Sam are both, in my opinion, the most realistic characters, simply because we do not read from their perspective but we know how they feel. I liked Sam and Ellie’s transition between friendship and girlfriend/boyfriend-ship, it was paced well and very sweet.
No Saints in Kansas
by Amy Brashear
Publisher: Soho Teen
Publication Date: November 14, 2017
NO SAINTS IN KANSAS by Amy Brashear is narrated by 16 year old Carly Flemming who is new to the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. Winter is usually quiet in this small town, but after the horrible murder of the Clutter family (including Nancy Clutter whom Carly used to secretly tutor), Carly and her friends take it upon themselves to solve the mystery and find the killer, much to the disapproval of the sheriff and their protective parents. This suspenseful novel was impossible to put down, and was definitely a fun read. Carly’s character is easy to relate to and she takes the reader on quite a ride as she tries to solve the case.
Now Is Everything
by Amy Giles
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: November 7, 2017
NOW IS EVERYTHING by Amy Giles is a dark family drama that deals with abuse, love, and sisterhood. Protagonist Hadley is willing to do anything to protect her younger sister, Lila, from her violent father, but as the stakes increase, she senses she’s running out of time. I’m not going to say much more than that, because the book is, in some ways, a mystery. I enjoyed reading about Hadley and Lila’s relationship; it is incredibly genuine and heartbreaking how much they care about each other. Hadley also explores a forbidden romance with Charlie Simmons, who becomes her confidante and ally; I loved their relationship as well.
I generally lean towards dark material in my book choices, but the graphic violence in NOW IS EVERYTHING was a lot to handle even for me. Hadley is also suicidal at some points in the book, so readers should be conscious of this. Because of the suicidal themes, violence, and substance abuse, I would recommend this book for older teens.
A Line in the Dark
by Malinda Lo
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
A LINE IN THE DARK by Malinda Lo is a suspenseful yet heartfelt novel that explores concepts of privilege, sexuality, and friendship. Protagonist Jess Wong has had unrequited feelings for her best friend, Angie Redmond, for as long as she can remember. When Angie starts dating Margot Adams, a wealthy girl from a nearby boarding school, Jess feels more alone than ever. The plot takes a dark turn when Margot’s best friend is murdered, and Jess, Angie, and Margot find themselves at the center of the investigation. Overall, I enjoyed this book; I found Jess to be a relatable, three-dimensional character, and I enjoyed hearing her narration. To add suspense to the murder, the book switches from first to third person halfway through the book, but I missed hearing Jess’s unique voice.
This book did an excellent job of shedding light on the power of storytelling and artwork, as Jess works on a series of comics that mirror her own journey throughout the novel. The one downside to A LINE IN THE DARK was the loose ends remaining at the end; the conclusion felt abrupt and I was left wanting more. Despite this, I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a fast-paced mystery novel with a compelling protagonist.
