Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Ganes trilogy book #3

SPOILER ALERT!!! Please do not read any further if you haven't read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for you.

"My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead."

It has been roughly a month since the breakout in the Quarter Quell arena. Katniss Everdeen's new home is now District 13 since 12 now lies in ruins. reunited with Gale and her family, it seems that Katniss is no longer a pawn in the Hunger Games but a pawn in a long simmering revolution against the Capital. The choice is hers, turn her back on everyone or become the face of the revolution, the mockingjay. What will Katniss choose? Is Peeta dead or alive? Thinhs will never be the same as Katniss is rocked to her very core.

Visit Suzanne Collins' website.

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series by Heather Brewer

Eighth Grade Bites: Book One
Thirteen-year-old Vlaidimir Tod is in the eighth grade at Bathory Junior High. Vlad is unlike his best friend Henry or any of his classmates for that matter. He is half vampire and lives with his "Aunt Nelly", his mother's closest friend. Both deceased, Vlad's mother was human while his father was a vampire. Vlad is bullied by his classmates while secretly harboring a crush on Meredith. Things begin to change when Vlad's English teacher, Mr. Craig, disappears around Halloween and is replaced by the mysterious Mr. Otis. Unbeknownest to Vlad, someone is looking for him and Mr. Craig has met his demise at the hands of a vampire.

Mr. Otis Otis is an odd man who until recently taught mythology at Stokerton High. He will substitute for Mr. Craig's English composition class but infuse a study of mythological and supernatural creatures. Class goes well until the day Mr. Otis assigns a written essay and oral report on a supernatural creature that each student will draw from a hat. Vlad prays he will not pull out "vampire". He is quite relieved to see "werewolf" until Mr. Otis clenches his fist as Vlad stares in disbelief and the letters rearrange themselves to say "vampire". "Vampire?" he says as Mr. Otis slyly tells Vlad he "looks forward to reading your perception of vampires."

Vlad takes it upon himself to not only investigate the disappearance of Mr. Craig but the mysterious death of his parents. What does he discover when he reads his father's journal? Just who is Mr. Otis, why does he have a mysterious tattoo and hangs around Mr. Craig's house? And who is D'Ablo and what is his connection to Mr. Otis? Is Vlad's secret close to being discovered and is someone out to kill him?

Visit Heather Brewer's website.

Ninth Grade Slays: Book Two

If Vladimir Tod thought middle school sucked, just wait until high school. Tom and Bill still bully him, he can't get the nerve up to talk to his crush Meredith and best friend Henry's cousin Joss is new in town. Soon things begin to pick up when Vlad and Joss become friends and Meredith makes her move. Even better his uncle is taking him to Siberia over winter break to learn more about his vampire powers. The flip side of the coin is that fellow classmate and newspaper photographer Eddie Poe is out to discover exactly what Vlad is and there is a vampire slayer in Bathory looking for him.

Tenth Grade Bleeds: Book Three

Sophomore year of high school brings more of the same for Vladimir Tod. Eddie Poe bought a new camera and is determined to find Vlad's secret. Otis is searching for a ritual to save Vlad and D'Ablo is still trying to find a way to rid the world if him. Plus a hired killer is looking for revenge. But other things have changed for the better. Meredith is now Vlad's girlfriend. He hangs out with the Goth gang and Henry is pulling away from Vlad and no longer wants to be his drudge. On top of all of this, Vlad's thrist is spinning out of control. Will Vlad survive hi sophomore year?

Eleventh Grade Burns: Book Four
Things are still not looking any better for Vladimir Tod. All summer he has moped sround over his split from Meredith. School is starting and not only on his mind is the girl of his dreams but best friend Henry informs him that his vampire slayer cousin Joss is coming back to town. Otis' trial hyas been set and D'Ablo's secured a lucrative seat on the vampire council. And the one vampire who may be able to save Otis has a desire to drink Vlad's half vampire/half human blood. Will Vlad be able to survive his junior yuear of high school?

Don't miss the final installment of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod; Twelfth Grade Kills due out September 21, 2010.

Gemma Doyle Series by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty - book 1

In 1885, Gemma Doyle, her mother and Indian servant are passing through Bombay's market district to have tea and cake at Mrs. Talbot's house for her sixteenth birthday. Gemma is in a foul mood because she wishes she was in London with her grandmother to begin her life in society. When a dark-cloaked Indian man and his younger companion exit a train, Gemma realizes she is slightly attracted to the young man even though she shouldn't be. The older man tells Gemma's mother that "Circe is near" and she becomes horror-stricken. Gemma's mother gives her the necklace she always wears, a cresent moon with an eye above it, as a bribe to leave. Gemma is sent home but not before she tells her mother that she doesn't care if she comes home at all.

Gemma becomes lost on the way home and two men are terrified of her necklace. In her wanderings, Gemma once again encounters the young cloaked man when she is overtaken by a spell where is is no longer concerned with losing her virtue but her life. While unconscious, Gemma sees her mother being followed into a shop that bears the same moon and eye symbol as her necklace. There in desperation, Gemma's mother kills herself.

Two months later, Gemma's brother Tom is taking her to finishing school at Spence Academy to become a marriable woman. On their way through the slums of London, their carriage is stopped by a man and woman who argue with the driver. While stopped, Gemma has another vision similiar to the one she had when her mother died. A young girl tells her that Mary is looking for her but so is It. A hideous shadow creature appears and Gemma comes back to reality and tells the couple to leave and the carriage to continue. Tom is taken aback as that is no way for a young lady to behave. As they approach Spence, a gypsy woman appears and when she sees that it is Gemma, says "Oh, but it's you. You've come back to me." Gemma is thrown when she asks her where is Carolina and calls that "Mother Elena sees everything."

Upon her arrival at Spence Academy, Gemma finds it to be unwelcome place. Mrs. Nightwing, the headmistress, introduces Gemma to her classmates. Right away she notices a small group of girls about her age. One is a beautiful brunette but the blonde in the clique seems to be the leader. Gemma walks to evening prayers with her new roommate, Ann Bradshaw. Ann is an orphan who is a scholarship student at the school to become a governess. She soon learns that the two girls are Felicity and Pippa and are downright cruel. Felicity's clique of girls play a horrible trick on Ann after dinner but Gemma stands up for Ann and turns the tables on Felicity. Later in the night, Felicity comes to Gemma's room for a midnight initiation to their group. The girls take Gemma to the chapel to steal some of the communion wine to prove her worth. When she enters the chapel, she is locked in. Paybacks for standing up for Ann earlier in the evening. Gemma soon realizes that she is not alone in the chapel. The young dark-cloaked man from India who found her in the streets is there. He tells her his name is Kartik. He has followed her from India and wants to know the story of her mother's death. His brother was killed by the monster and tells Gemma to work to make her visions stop. They will be watching her. Gemma takes the wine and flees back to school before the vicar finds her.

On Gemma's way back to the schol, she runs into the young girl from her vision in London. Gemma follows her to a cave where she finds the dairy of Mary Dowd hidden behind a rock. Mary writes of having peaceful visions so unlike Gemma's. Later Gemma has a vision of her mother and awakes to find a piece of her mother's dress in her hand. But the tables are turned in Gemma's favor when she discovers a terrible secret of Felicity's. Will Gemma be able to stop her visions or will she try and embrace them? Who is Kartik and why does he want her to stop? What is the symbolism of the necklace Gemma's mother gave her? Do Gemma and Felicity become best friends or mortal enemies? And who is Circe and what does she want with Gemma? What secrets must Gemma unlock to learn the truth not only about herself but her other's past?

Visit Libba Bray's website.

Rebel Angels - Book 2 of Gemma Doyle

SPOILER ALERT!!  Kartik has been given his orders by the brotherhood of the Rakshana. He must gain Gemma's favor and help her find the temple in the realm, the true source of the Order's power.

It is Christmastime at Spence Academy and Gemma is going home to London to celebrate with her family. Along with her closest friends can she accomplish what must be done in the realms and bind the magic in the temple? And can Gemma survive the ultimate fight against Circe when her true identity is revealed? And what choice must Gemma make when the charming and handsome Simon Middleton enters the picture?

The Sweet Far Thing - Book 3 of Gemma Doyle

SPOILER ALERT!! The conclusion of Gemma Doyle's story as she figures out who to trust and not, the mysteries of the Relams and who she is. Lots of shocking plot twists to keep the reader on the edge of your seat until the very end. The last 200 pages will be hard to put down.

Gone series by Michael Grant

"One minute the teacher was telling about the Civil War.
And the next minute he was gone.
There.
Gone.
No 'poof'. No flash of light. No explosion." - Ch. 1
Gone - book one

At first Sam Temple thinks he is just imagines Mr. Trentlake disappearing. Then his fellow classmates start to question his disappearance as well as that of a fellow classmate. No he just poofed, confirms another classmate. The classroom door opens and in walks Astrid Ellison, the school genius. Astrid says that something weird is happening because her teacher and all the other members of her math study group have disappeared. "They're gone. They all just ... disappeared." Soon those who are left in Perdido Beach realize that much more is wrong. No one over the age of fourteen year of age is left in the school. Telephones, TVs and the Internet are not working as well.

Later that afternoon, Sam, Astrid and Sam's best friend Quinn happen upon a fire that is next door to the daycare and hardware store. Knowing that the hardware store could be vital in the coming days, 'School Bus Sam' springs into action and quickly organizes a make-shift fire department. Sam earned his nickname in the seventh grade when he guided a school bus to a stop after the driver suffered a heart attack. Soon Sam hears a child calling "Mommy" and goes in to save her. When Sam locates the child, she is frightened of him and shoots fire from her tiny hands towards him. Sam reacts by raising his own hand at her and shoots out a "flash of light, bright as an exploding star." The neighboring buildings are saved but the little girl dies. Sam realizes that maybe he is not the only person in town who can do weird things.

Astrid is worried about her younger brother, Little Pete, who is autistic. Sam, Quinn and Astrid each check on their homes and realize their parents aren't there, they head towards Clifftop Resort where Astrid's mother was playing tennis that day. After scouring the resort without finding Little Pete, the three teens find an impenetrable barrier that cuts the tennis courts in two. Sam receives a shock when he touches it but his skin is not burned. The wall goes up higher than they can see and after Edilio digs down to the bedrock, they can find no bottom. The teens decide to go in search of Little Pete at the Perdido Beach Nuclear Plant where Astrid's father works. On the way, they find out that the barrier blocks the highway and see a mutated sea gull.

On the way to the PBNP, the four teens run into Orc and his gang of bullies. After a minor squirmish, the teens find out no one has volunteered to be 'in charge' since Sam had disappeared during the night. All the kids in the town plaza had kept asking for Sam. Now Orc is running the FAYZ, the Fallout Alley Youth Zone. Perdido Beach earned the nickname "Fallout Alley" after a meteorite struck one of the plant's reactors. At the plant, Little Pete is found. Sam has an unexplained chocking fit and once again light shoots from his hand. The teens are terrified and decide to walk back into town. Along the way, Edilio and Quinn confront Sam and Astrid is forced to admit that Little Pete is capable of moving people form place to place.

The next morning all of the kids in the plaza start moving to a church where four dark, expensive cars are moving parade-like through the town. the cars contain students from Coates Academy. There has always been a rivalry between the wealthy, difficult Coates students and the kids in town. They have come into town in an attempt to deal with the situation they have been dealt with. What exactly is going on in Perdido Beach and what has happened to everyone over the age of fifteen? Can everyone get along or will it be every kids for themselves? And why do some kids like Sam and Little Pete have extraordinary powers? Just what is going on in thne FAYZ?

Check out Michael Grant's website or The FAYZ.

Hunger - book 2 of the Gone series

SPOILER ALERT!! 
It has been three months since the end of Gone and the inhabitants of the FAYZ are going hungry. Animals are still mutating and strange things are occurring in the environment. The story of the children left behind at Perdido Beach and Coates Academy and their daily struggles continue. Along with the evil thing that lurks in their backyard.

Lies  - book 3 of the Gone series

SPOILER ALERT!!

The further saga of the lost children of the FAYZ that will keep you on the edge of your set until the very end as a glimpse of what is going on outside of the wall of the FAYZ is revealed or is it true?

The story of the FAYZ continues in 2011 with Plague and Darkness in 2012. The Gone series will be completed with book 6 in 2013.

Books of Faerie series by Maggie Stiefvater

Lament: the faerie queen's deception

Deidre Monaghan is extremely nervous about competing at the Eastern Virginia Arts Festival. Her "fear of public humilation" causes her to run into the bathroom where Luke Dillon comes to her rescue. Luke is the mysterious boy from her dream the night before. After regaining her nerves, Deirdre heads outside with Luke to practice her harp. He goads her into playing "The Faerie Girl's Lament" and joins her with his flute. In the end, Luke pushes Deirdre into making the piece her own and they play a duet for the competition. As strangely and mysteriously as he appears, Luke slips off but promises to return for the awards reception.

After leaving the tent at the reception, Deirdre goes off to look for Luke. When she comes across the pugent smell of herbs, Dee looks and sees that she is standing in a patch of four-leaf clovers. Upon standing up, she sees a ginger-haired young man with an abundance of freckles studying her. He tells Deirdre how well she played all the while circling her. She is a bit uneasy until Luke arrives and he is adamant that no one is there. He knocks a four-leaf clover from her hand. Arriving back at the tent, they run into a beautiful acquaintance of Luke's who remarks that They were all amazed at how beautifully Deirdre played and that she will be watching. Luke is quite annoyed. They go to join Deirdre's mother and aunt Delia when they notice a burly man talking to them about their performance. He leaves a business card stating "Thornking-Ash" and says they are looking for performers. Soon it is announced that Deirdre and Luke are the grand prize winners.

The next day, Luke and Deirdre go for ice cream and she notices that Luke has a ring full of keys. He gives her one and says that secrets are tied to the number of keys you carry. The secret he tells her, "I have no business being fascinated by you." They soon return to Deirdre's home where her Granna has arrived for Dee's belated birthday dinner. Granna frowns when she sees Luke and points to a dull, silver-colored ring on her hand. Then she asks him if he knows what she got Deirdre for her birthday and what is he doing here again. Granna tells him not to think of it and to go back to Them. Luke tells Granna he is not one of Them and her is here for just a litle while. Luke leaves and Granna gives Deirdre the dull ring from her finger. She tells Dee it's a family heirloom and that she needs it now. Her best friend James soon arrives for dinner. James is in love with Deirdre, unbeknowst to her.

Even though Deirdre knows nothing about Luke and strange things continue to happen around her, she and Luke are soon head over heels in love. Shortly Deirdre is sought by the Faeries (Them) who wish to kill her for her musical and other abilities, Deirdre is a cloverhand; one who can call faeries, and it seems that Luke is her protector. Or is he as Deirdre finds out that for over one thousand years Luke has been in the service of the Faerie Queen as her personal assassin. Soon everyone Deirdre loves is in danger and not everyone is who they seem. Dark secrets abound as Deirdre rushes to save those she loves. But is she in time?

Stiefvater has done a tremondous job in weaving Celtic faerie lore into her story and this is an excellent read for those who especially enjoyed her "Wolves of Mercy Falls" series or Holly Black's "Modern Faeire" series.

Check out Maggie Stiefvater's website. She also frequently posts in her blog.

Ballad: a gathering of faerie
SPOILER ALERT: The companion to Lament: the faerie queen's deception.

Two months have passed since the end of Lament. Deirdre and James have deicded to continue their high school and musical career at Thornking-Ash. Where Lament is told from Deirdre's point of view, Ballad is told in alternating points of view between James and Nuala. Nuala is a leanan sidhe, the lowest of the low solitary fey. Nuala is nearly human. She is reborn from ash every sixteen years and needs the creativity of preferably handsome young men to live. Nuala feeds off their energy until death. Nuala's next mark is James but with his previous faerie experience, he is not buying what Nuala is selling. James is still hung up on Deirdre. As things get weirdier at Thornking-Ash school, can James and Deirdre survive another run-in with the faeries?