Tag Archives: Action

YA – The Brothers Hawthorne

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Barnes, Jennifer Lynn. The Brothers Hawthorne. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-316-48077-2. $19.99. 480 p. Grades 9-12.

The Hawthorne brothers had a rather unusual upbringing. Their wealthy grandfather pushed them to be the best that could be in any given situation and challenged them each and every day. After he passed away, leaving his vast fortune to a stranger, both Grayson and Jameson Hawthorne are trying to find their new place in the world. When Grayson discovers his half sister has gotten into some trouble, he doesn’t hesitate to help her out. Although he has no intentions of getting to know her or her twin sister and has vowed to have no emotional connections with them whatsoever, he struggles to protect the Hawthorne family secrets as he attempts to keep his new family safe. On the other side of the world, Jameson Hawthorne, along with Avery Grahams, has discovered secrets about his father’s family as well. Jameson’s father finds him in London, and after asking for his help, Jameson and Avery must join and infiltrate an inclusive, mysterious London club in order to win back a family estate Jameson’s father gambled away. They have the chance to win it back for him if they are invited to play in a dangerous game, and luckily, Jameson has been raised to win, no matter the cost. In the end, the brothers must each face some of the most difficult challenges of their lives and decide what and who truly matters the most.

THOUGHTS: As a continuation of The Inheritance Games,  I think readers will enjoy this one only after finishing the original trilogy. I liked the back-and-forth narration between Grayson and Jameson, and readers will find The Brothers Hawthorne full of mystery, intrigue, adventure, puzzles, and dangerous games as they discover even more Hawthorne secrets and family history that has not been previously revealed. This mystery thriller also sets the tone for Barnes’ next edition in The Inheritance Games collection: a set of novellas which will be published at the end of this year, and in addition, a new series, The Grandest Game, will be released in the summer. I’d highly recommend this saga to any reader looking for something to keep their interest and keep them guessing!

Realistic Fiction    

YA – Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

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Zhao, Amelie Wen. Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. Delacorte Press, 2023. 978-0593487501. $19.99. 480p. Grades 9-12.

Lan is a performing song girl in Haak’gong, and although her life appears to be the same as the other girls she lives and performs with, she has a secret. Lan spends her days trying to understand the message behind the strange mark left on her arm by her mother before she died. In her quest for answers, she meets Zen. Zen is a practitioner and only uses his magic in secret. When their worlds collide one fateful night, Zen agrees to take Lan to his practitioner masters after she uses her powers in a moment of panic. As Lan begins to understand her powers and the fate of her mother and her people, Lan realizes that everyone has secrets. She’s swept up in a war to overthrow the Elantian regime who want to outlaw her magic. Drawing upon ancient Chinese myths and legends, Zhao has crafted a story of love, loss, betrayal, and power. Will Lan and Zen use the powers they possess to save their world, or will they destroy it?

THOUGHTS: This book really kept me on my toes! I felt that a lot of the characters made surprising decisions that somewhat “broke the mold” of what I would expect of a YA character. There is a ton of gray area when it comes to the magic the characters possess and the decisions they make when it comes to obtaining power to protect the ones they love. Readers will enjoy the action, mystery, and adventure this fantasy novel provides as well as the inclusion of ancient Chinese mythology.

Fantasy

YA – Chain of Thorns

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Clare, Cassandra. Chain of Thorns. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2023. 978-1-481-43193-4. $24.99. 800 p. Grades 9-12.

Chain of Thorns, the final book in The Last Hours series, concludes the story of James Herondale and Cordelia Carstairs who found themselves engaged to one another to avoid ruining Cordelia’s reputation. After witnessing an intimate moment between James and Grace Blackthorn, Cordelia escapes to Paris with Matthew Fairchild. Although James runs after them, he instead accompanies his father and Magnus Bane to find his sister, Lucy. Meanwhile, The Merry Thieves and the rest of the Shadowhunters are making plans to fight back against Belial and Tatiana Blackthorn, who has escaped imprisonment. Once they are all reunited, these friends uncover dark secrets and find the courage to speak their truths while they attempt to protect their fellow Shadowhunters from harm and save the entire city of London.

THOUGHTS: Cassandra Clare is a unique, fantasy author. She has never “left” the world of Shadowhunters that she first created with The Mortal Instruments, but instead continues the story both before and after the events of the original series. In my opinion, each series gets better and better and should be included in every young adult library collection. If you can get a student hooked on one series, they’ll want to read them all! I was not disappointed with the conclusion of this series, and Clare has plans for one more series in the Shadowhunter world, and she does a fantastic job of including diverse characters into her novels.

Fantasy

YA – Stars and Smoke

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Lu, Marie. Stars and Smoke. Roaring Brook Press, 2023. 978-1-250-85281-6. $19.99. 336 p. Grades 9-12.

Winter Young is the world’s most famous pop superstar. At 19, he has the world at his feet. Everyone wants to attend one of his concerts, and although he has worked hard to get where he is, he’s still not completely happy with his life and can’t shake the feeling that he should be doing something more. When Winter is recruited into a mission to take down a notorious crime boss by performing at his daughter’s birthday party, he accepts and finds himself paired up with Sydney Cossette, a spy who will be acting as his bodyguard. Sydney has no time for Winter’s stardom or charm, but as the mission becomes more dangerous, they must work together to achieve their goal, and soon, Sydney begins to realize there is a lot more to Winter Young than his fame and looks.

THOUGHTS: This was certainly a change from Marie Lu’s typical science fiction novels. I’m a huge fan of her books, and although I liked this one, I felt like it wasn’t enough story for me, and maybe that was done on purpose to make sure I pick up book two (which I will be doing!). I’d recommend this one to readers who like realistic fiction, love stories, and pop music since the main character, Winter Young, is the world’s biggest superstar. The espionage and action will keep readers hooked along with the slow burn romance between the two main characters. It would be a great addition to any Taylor Swift displays as well!

Realistic Fiction   

YA – Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel

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Reynolds, Jason. Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel. Atheneum, 2023. 978-1-665-91846-6. 303 p. $19.99. Grades 7-12.

Miles Morales, a teen hiding secret spider super-man powers, uncovers a villainous plot after he receives in-school-suspension (ISS) at his school, Brooklyn Visions Academy. After a blow-up with a racist teacher, Miles is set to serve his ISS day quietly by completing a large packet of work from each of his teachers. As the day progresses, Miles begins to notice there is something a little ‘off’ in the ISS room—and something weird going on with one of his classmates, Tobin. Tobin is in trouble for stealing (and allegedly eating) library books. His ‘spidey-sense’ keeps prickling, and Miles is not quite sure why. Then, Miles thinks he sees a termite crawl across Tobin’s desk…and directly into his ear. Miles ultimately discovers that Tobin is part of a larger plot. Miles must face off against this enemy in order to restore justice—and the freedom to read.

THOUGHTS: Jason Reynolds masterfully weaves together verse and prose to create a layered, complex novel; Suspended could be read and enjoyed by a middle schooler right up to a senior in high school. Reynolds keeps Spider-man cool and relevant to 2023; the book tackles topics of school library censorship and contains social justice themes while still including all of the elements of a classic superhero story. Miles himself is a realistic and nuanced character who grapples with familial and cultural identity, seeing patterns, and understanding consequences. Although this book is technically a sequel to Miles Morales, Spider-man (2018), readers can enjoy Suspended on its own as well.

Fantasy

Elem. – Can You Dance Like a Peacock?

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Rajan, Rekha S. Can You Dance Like a Peacock? Sourcebooks Explore. 2023. 978-1-728-26423-3. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Did you know that animals use dancing and movement to communicate? Each animal communicates in a different way and often moves around to do so! Some animals move a specific way to attract a mate, while others move to collect and tell their friends where food is located. Can you dance like these animals and communicate to the people around you?

THOUGHTS: An interesting movement book that informs readers about the different ways some animals communicate with each other. Take a dance break and move along with these fascinating animals!

590 Animals (Zoology)

YA – Realm Breaker

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Aveyard, Victoria. Realm Breaker. Harper Teen, 2021. 978-0-062-87262-3. 563 p. $19.99. Grades 8-12.

Aveyard returns with a lush new fantasy series that feels like a cross between King Arthur and Game of Thrones. A new player has come to the Ward, a man with the power to open Spindles, portals between realms. Spindles have not been opened for generations, not since the Immortals traveled into the Ward and found themselves stranded, unable to return to their home. But now Taristan has stolen the sword to create spindles, and begun releasing monsters and undead creatures into the world. Those knights who survived the initial battle between good and evil realize what Taristan is unleashing, yet few rulers care to believe them. The Immortal Domacridhan knows what it will take to stop Taristan – an individual with Corblood, and a Spindlesword – and he sets out to locate 17-year-old Corayne, an illegitimate daughter of the Cor lineage, who yearns for adventures her pirate mother refuses to grant her. The group gradually enlarges to seven unique characters, including a squire who lost his Lord at the first battle; a forger; a bounty hunter; a witch; and Sorasa, an assassin who steals the story. With no support from the monarchs of the Ward, the ragtag group proceeds to try to close the spindles before their world is set ablaze. This first book in the series has a great deal of scene setting to accomplish, and Aveyard evokes a fascinating world of exotic lands and characters of all ethnicities and skin tones. A detailed map on the endpapers assists readers in keeping track of the sprawling territory, and at times the proliferation of characters, locales, and realms can be overwhelming, but the story is gripping and delightfully satisfying. While Corayne seems to be set up as the main character, the story rotates between all the voices, and each character is a well-developed personality: Andry, the 17-year-old squire has nobility ingrained in him, but slowly develops the ruthlessness needed to survive their quest; Dom, the Immortal, does not quite understand mortals; and Sorasa, the female assassin, just might have a heart under her tough persona. There is no shortage of action, battles, monsters, daring escapes, and breathtaking betrayals.

THOUGHTS: Fantasy lovers should flock to this new series and be waiting on the edge of their seats for the sequel.

Fantasy          Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor SD

Corayne an-Amarat is the daughter of a pirate, but she hasn’t had any adventures of her own. When she discovers that she’s the last of an ancient line, her world is changed forever. Corayne begins a journey along with Domacridhan of Iona, an immortal sworn to protect her, the assassin Sorasa Sarn, squire Andry Trelland, the forger Charlon Armont, bounty hunter Sigil of the Temurijon, and a witch named Valtik. Together, this fellowship sets out to stop Erida of Galland, the queen who chose to ally with villainous Taristan of Old Cor from using spindle magic to tear a rip between worlds, and save the Allward realm from their destruction.

THOUGHTS: This book reminds me of Game of Thrones but for a YA audience. The story is told through the perspective of a large cast of characters. Some of the characters are good and set out to defend their world while others, hungry for power, make questionable decisions that will determine the course of the future. Within the fantastical world of Realm Breaker, readers will experience action, adventure, and ancient magic along with pirates, assassins, and monsters. This also would be a great book recommendation for readers who aren’t looking for a strong love story, and it’s perfect for any fan of the high fantasy genre.

Fantasy           Emily Hoffman, Conestoga Valley SD

Elem. – Ninja Kid: From Nerd to Ninja

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Do, Anh. Ninja Kid: From Nerd to Ninja!  Scholastic, 2021. 978-1-338-58523-0. $6.99. 192 p. Grades 2-5.

This illustrated novel for younger readers tells the story of Nelson, a nerd from Duck Creek. Nelson wakes up on his tenth birthday and discovers that he’s a ninja! The last ninja on earth! With the help of his grandmother’s inventions, Nelson finds a way to save the day from giant hairy spiders invading his town. He even learns of family secrets about his father’s ninja past and disappearance. This is the first book in a new series.

THOUGHTS: This illustrated novel is action packed and will appeal to reluctant readers. The humor and common theme of not fitting in will resonate.

Early Chapter Book          Krista Fitzpatrick, Wissahickon Charter School

YA – Lore

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Bracken, Alexandra. Lore. Disney Hyperion, 2021. 978-1-484-77820-3. $18.99. 480 p. Grades 9-12.

Lore Perseus is trying to live a normal life, but as a descendant of the Greek hero Perseus, it’s not that simple. Every seven years, a new Agon begins. During this time, nine Greek gods walk the Earth as mortals as a punishment from Zeus. These gods are hunted by the descendants of the ancient Greek bloodlines. If a god is killed by a mortal during an Agon, the mortal hunters will inherit their power and immortality. Although Lore walked away from that world after her family was murdered, her past is catching up with her. When she is approached by a childhood friend and the god Athena, Lore strikes up an alliance hoping to avenge the death of her family and finally escape the Agon forever. Set against the backdrop of modern day New York City, Lore must confront her past, figure out who she can trust, and ultimately save the world from both old gods and new.

THOUGHTS: This book has been described as a mix between The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and I would absolutely recommend it to readers that are fans of Rick Riordan and Greek mythology. In addition, Lore is a standalone fantasy novel which may appeal to readers who are not looking to commit to a series. The main character, Lore, is a strong and powerful female determined to take control of her own life. The fast-paced story is full of action, and the surprising plot twists will keep readers on their toes!

Fantasy          Emily Hoffman, Conestoga Valley SD

Lore Perseous wants to be a normal teenage girl living in New York City. She wants to forget that she is from an Ancient Greek bloodline, descended from Perseus himself. However, the brutal reminder of who she is becomes apparent as the Agon begins its next cycle after seven years. The Agon, which started as a punishment from Zeus for past rebellions, is a time in which nine Greek gods and goddesses are forced to walk on Earth as mortals. During the seven days of the Agon, if a god or goddess is killed by a descendant of an ancient bloodline, the descendant seizes that god’s powers and immortality. For her own sanity and protection, Lore is determined to ignore the Agon as she has horrible memories of what happened to her family during the last one. The Fates have other plans for her when two people seek her out: Castor, a childhood friend, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. Athena offers Lore an alliance in an attempt to stop one god from becoming all-powerful. Joining this alliance means she could possibly end the horrors of the Agon forever, so Lore is tempted. She knows, however, binding to Athena could come at a deadly cost and wipe out the rest of the Perseous bloodline forever. By rejoining the hunt, Lore is leaving her fate in the hands of a powerful goddess who is not always known for keeping her promises.

THOUGHTS: Alexandra Bracken’s book is a heart-pounding adventure that leaves the reader at a cliffhanger with the end of every chapter. Readers should have a basic knowledge of Greek Mythology to get the most out of this book, but fans of Zeus and all the rest are sure to love this tale. This book is a fantastic purchase for high school libraries, especially with students who read Percy Jackson in middle school and are now looking for something more advanced.

Fantasy/Adventure        Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD

YA – Ready Player Two

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Cline, Ernest. Ready Player Two. Ballantine Books, 2020. 978-1-524-76133-2. 370 p. $28.99. Grades 9 and up. 

Wade Watts has won the contest. He’s rich, he’s famous, he’s living the life of his dreams? Inheriting billions of dollars and taking control of GSS has left Wade wrapped up in a lavishly padded but empty life. With robotic staff at home and avatars inside the Oasis, Wade very rarely interacts with actual, physical people. While the rest of the High Five move on, creating great lives and names for themselves, Wade is left behind. That is until the unexpected happens and the High Five are thrown back together again, with a new race to save the Oasis. One with even greater consequences than before.

THOUGHTS: Ready Player Two is as much an action-packed whirlwind as the first. Readers will delight in meeting friends, old and new, that change the face of humanity.

Science Fiction          Samantha Helwig, Dover Area SD

Wade Watts has just won James Halliday’s contest and, along with his friends, the high five, has become one of the new co-owners of Gregarious Simulation Systems. As James Halliday’s heir, he now wears the robes of Anorak while in the Oasis, giving his avatar Parzival unlimited power. Days after winning the contest, Wade also discovers a new technology called ONI (Oasis neural interface) which has never been released to the public. Halliday specifically left this technology to his heir, and Wade, along with his co-owners Aech, Art3mis, and Shoto, has to decide if the world is ready for this technology. Only Art3mis objects, and soon the world starts experiencing the Oasis in a new and improved way. Wade quickly becomes addicted to the new ONI experience, and lives a very solitary life, always waiting to get back into the Oasis. However, when a new quest is revealed, similar to Halliday’s egg contest in the previous installment, Wade needs all of the help he can get, from both old friends and new, and Parzival must once again step up to the challenge to save the Oasis while keeping ONI users out of danger.

THOUGHTS: The futuristic setting of both Ready Player One and Ready Player Two doesn’t seem as unrealistic as it did to me when I first started this series. One of the benefits of the Oasis is that people can interact safely without the fear of spreading disease, and they often reference a terrible flu that killed millions before the Oasis became so widely used. Since so many of our interactions in 2020 were virtual, it makes me wonder if something like the Oasis will be in our future as well. I’m glad this book picked up right where book one left off, and the events that transpired after didn’t come as too much of a surprise to me either. Readers must remember how young Wade Watts is, and after inheriting everything from James Halliday in the previous book, it only makes sense that he’s not always going to make the right choices after becoming a billionaire overnight. Mostly, I loved all of the 80s pop culture references, especially the John Hughes planet inside of the Oasis! It was a nice wrap up to events set in motion in Ready Player One, and a perfect book to read during these primarily virtual times.

Fantasy          Emily Hoffman, Conestoga Valley SD