The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil-and worth killing for.
Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget. 

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Dystopian novels are becoming more and more popular in teen and children’s fiction–so now it’s time to get picky. I haven’t read a lot books from the genre (yet) but I already can say The Water Wars is a good dystopian novel to start with. Fast-paced, suspenseful and nicely developed, The Water Wars is the tale of a group of teens who are at odds with a waterless world and a controlling monopoly who possess a carefully guarded secret...and a terrifying plan.

Though the idea of a drought-ridden planet is not entirely “new”, I felt as if Stracher composed it as a fresh idea by slowly introducing the environment, characters and their way of life. I also liked how he introduced our main character’s voice, which reminded me a lot of Guy Montag in Fahrenheit 451; Vera constantly struggled (and often denied) the fact that perhaps the powerful authorities who promised to keep the people of the broken up territories safe, had entirely different agenda. Throughout the book there is a very strong sense of political views (much like Fahrenheit 451 or 1985, etc.) which plays a major role in the entire plot. I can see how some readers will be in a sense “turned-off” by this or will enjoy it all the better–as for myself, I think it made the book all the more worthwhile. What good is a dystopian novel if there’s isn’t some kind of friction with naturalistic changes and/or humanity?

The semi-objective first person narrative made the story even more intriguing–the details were epic, Vera’s world made me thirstier with every page. Stracher managed to keep me guessing through most the book and kept the turn of events rolling quite nicely. Towards the end it got a little predictable but it was a great finish. I would definitely read more by Stracher and perhaps more books from the dystopian genre too.

Recommendation: Teens and tweens who enjoy dystopian or who want to try something new–ages 12+

Content: Some sensuality (PG)

Buy or Borrow? Hard to say really, as much as liked reading The Water Wars, dystopian is not for everybody...perhaps try before you buy?

Cover Talk: The cover is awesome! Loved the way it came out. When I first saw it on Sourcebook's Teen Fire site I knew I had to vote on it for the final cover.

|Pages: 240|Release Date: January 2011|Publisher: Scourcebooks Fire|

|Genre: Dystopian, adventure, suspense/thriller|

|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover: 5/5|Overall: 4/5|

Review is copyright© by Books and Literature for Teens.

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki

Timothy July has a secret. And it’s giving him nightmares. Abigail Tremens has a problem. Her nightmares are haunting her…while she is awake. When they team up for a school project, they don’t realize that Abigail’s past and Timothy’s present are making them the target of a terrible curse. A curse that turns their worst fears to reality. But their fears are just the beginning. The curse stems from a strange artifact that gains strength by devouring a human soul. And it needs to feed again. Dan Poblocki (author of The Stone Child) has written another bone-chilling page-turner to give you goose bumps. It’s the kind of book best read on a bright afternoon…which may keep your own nightmares at bay.

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From the author of The Stone Child comes another suspenseful and eerie story of how fear can control and haunt our minds. The Nightmarys is Poblocki's best book yet... perhaps a bit more scarier even. From the very first to the final page, The Nightmarys is sure to entice readers and leave them anxious for more.
Poblocki starts out with an unsuspecting and chilling event that sets the entire dilemma into play. I like that it "cuts to the chase" if you will and the whole story is very eventful–there's never a dull moment. I also love how mystery or horror books always play a big part in Poblocki's novels. In the Stone Child, the protagonist must locate the whereabouts of a missing horror writer and in The Nightmarys, the story unfolds as Timothy and Abigail follow clues in book as well. Nathaniel Olmstead, the missing writer from The Stone Child, is also mentioned in The Nightmarys so be sure to keep an eye out for this important reference. 
The story takes place in a small seaside town in Massachusetts that has some terrifying, dark secrets. Told in three parts, The Nightmarys is a great thriller for young adults or, for the young at heart. Poblocki has great potential and I think either one of his books deserve much more recognition.

I'm not a die-hard horror or even mystery novel fan but I have to admit I really enjoy reading Poblocki's books even though they do creep me out a bit. Even if–while you're reading The Nightmarys–objects seem to move out of the corner of your eye or you keep thinking the Nightmarys are going to appear at the foot of your bed, rest assure, Poblocki's characters always triumph over evil. With this said, and a fair warning included, if you're looking for an exciting book with a chilling edge, The Nightmarys is for you! I absolutely can not wait for another scary adventure...

➔The Nightmarys is now out in bookstores near you!

Recommendation: Looking for something that goes bump in the night? Recommended for ages 12+


This Book is For: Those who like "scary" stories 
This Book is Not For: Those who, well, don't like the paranormal


Content: Scary images and gore (PG)


The Last Straw: Passage from a random page [147]:
Small, shiny black eyes stared out from a pale, hairless, and doughy face. Terrified Stuart grabbed a glass of water off the nightstand and flung it into the corner of the room. It shattered above the figure's head, but the thing did not move, or even respond. It only continued to watch him.


|Pages: 325|Publisher: Random House|Published: August 2010|
|Genre: Suspense, Paranormal, Horror|Price: Hard. $15.99|
|Age Group: Ages 12+|Content: PG|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content: 3/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall: 4/5|

Conspiracy 365 by Gabrielle Lord (by Guest Reviewer)

On December 31st, fifteen year old Callum Ormond heard his name being called by a stranger he didn't even know. Before he could run away he shouts out to him "They killed your father. They're killing me! You must go into hiding until December 31st next year." After hearing those devastating words, Callum must uncover the mysterious history of his family and do so, he must use the few clues his father left behind. Now Callum is being framed for a crime he didn't commit and is a wanted fugitive not just by the authorities, but by the people who killed his father. While Callum races against time to uncover the clues, Callum must also be aware of the people who are willing to get to him by any means necessary. Will Callum uncover the dark secret which his father died over? Will he even survive the next 365 days?

Wow.. that's all I pretty much have to say about this book! It got directly to the point at the beginning, and it started picking up pace immediately. It sort of reminded me of Bourne Identity, but the story is totally different. It was definitely a quick read because it only took me a couple of hours to read, but it sure keeps you on the edge of your seat. I definitely think this book is a best seller series in the making and anyone who likes books with tons of action and a mysterious twist to it will really enjoy Conspiracy 365. I would recommend this for ages 12 and up.

Conspiracy 365 is now out in bookstores near you in the US, AU, and UK! This review was written by Margaret, our guest reviewer.

|Pages: 192|Year Published: Jan. 2009|Publisher: Kane/Miller|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, action & adventure, thriller|

|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|Content: None|

|Rating|

The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki

What if the monsters from your favorite horror books were real? Eddie Fennicks has always been a loner, content to lose himself in a mystery novel by his favorite author, Nathaniel Olmstead. That’s why moving to the small town of Gatesweed becomes a dream come true when Eddie discovers that Olmstead lived there before mysteriously disappearing thirteen years ago. Even better, Eddie finds a handwritten, never-before-seen Nathaniel Olmstead book printed in code and befriends Harris, who’s as much an Olmsteady as he is. But then the frightening creatures of Olmstead’s books begin to show up in real life, and Eddie’s dream turns into a nightmare. Eddie, Harris, and their new friend, Maggie, must break Olmstead’s code, banish all gremlins and monster lake-dogs from the town of Gatesweed, and solve the mystery of the missing author, all before Eddie’s mom finishes writing her own tale of terror and brings to life the scariest creature of all. - book jacket

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From angry trolls, a missing author, and a curse as old as time, The Stone Child is a magical read filled with terrifying creatures and amazingly scary fun.

I really enjoyed reading The Stone Child because, though it was scary enough to make your skin crawl, it has a good vs. evil plot and a creative “book within a book” style. This book is perfect for anyone who, like myself, enjoys horror stories that give you a good adrenaline rush, but doesn’t keep you up at night.

The Stone Child keeps you on your toes with brave, but curious characters; secret codes and myths about ancient times; and an eerie eye-view of the haunts of Gatesweed. It was a lot of fun to read, and even though the red-eyed dogs really gave me the creeps, they were by far my favorite “monster”.

With it’s magical, detailed narrative and stunning ending, I think readers will never forget The Stone Child. (I know I’ll never forget that troll!) Poblocki has such a neat imagination, I am really looking forward to reading more of his books!

All in all, from the very first sentence to the last paragraph, The Stone Child will capture your attention with frightful adventure and a world of monsters than will only go away if you can discover the key to the stone child. Just make sure you stay away from the lake....trust me.

Dan Poblocki has always loved telling frightening stories and scaring his friends. So much in fact, that his mother began receiving phone calls from angry parents. He decided to write the stories instead. Dan and his magical imagination live in Brooklyn, NY. This is his first novel.

For more info on The Stone Child, go it's Shelfari page, where I have updated it with the first sentence, a short summery, and a list of characters.

See my book trailer for The Stone Child!

Pages: 274 Year Published: August 2009 Publisher: Random House

Genre: Thriller, suspense, mystery, horror Age Group: YA, ages 12+

Content: Monsters and horror Enjoyed It: 4/5 Rating: 4/5

Special thank-you to Casey at Random House for sending me this book!

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

After a "accident" happens while exploring the old dredge (a huge mining machine), Ryan McCray is left with a broken leg and a encounter he'll never forget. While Ryan is recovering, he starts recounting his story in his journal, whereas Sarah takes things into her own hands and starts getting to the bottom of this chilling mystery one video at a time. Two teens, one ghost, and a town full secret society members. Something is wrong with Skeleton Creek, but can the twosome find the answer before they burn the dredge to ground and all it's secrets with it?

*****

Master of creepiness or an artists with panicky words? That is the question. When I first started reading this book I noticed that how the author got you scared was with simple words and phrases like "fear", "too terrible to write down", "dredge", "watching", or even "window". I hate windows at night. And wouldn't you know it, that is how the "ghost" is introduced... peeping through a window (see book cover). Is it just me or do I feel a chill? Hmm, oh well. The first two videos are creepy and I would highly recommend a buddy being there with you. Good news though, the rest of the videos are fine. No creepy things popping up, mainly stuff about the mystery. The mystery parts were actually quite interesting and I'm anticipating the next book, but I'm a little nervous about the videos. I can't say that I was so scared out of my pants that I couldn't continue, but it was enough to creep me out. I don't particularly like ghost stories unless I have a good hunch (and it turns out to be true) that the so-called ghost is a real person just scaring people. (I think I watched too many Scooby-Doos.) I thought combining text and video was a really neat idea and, although I prefer to read rather than watch, I think this new idea is a great way to get kids to read. I really don't agree with this book being labeled 9-12 because if someone younger than twelves picks up this book, chances are they'll have a hard time going to sleep. I would recommend to anyone age 12+, but definitely not anyone younger.

If you like ghost mysteries, grab this book and let the story of Skeleton Creek suck you in. Hey, this would even be a great thing to read during a sleep-over. But if you're faint of heart or don't like to be scared, then you know you shouldn't read this book.

No goosebumps? Great. Well here's your chance to experience Ryan and Sarah's adventure yourself because I'm giving away a signed copy of Skeleton Creek. I'm 90% sure that I'm going to give away some other books along with Skeleton Creek, so it might be a few more weeks till this book is actually up for grabs. Please stay tuned!

Ready for the next chilling adventure? Don't hold your breath 'cause Book 2, Ghost in the Machine will be here October 1st, 2009.

Pages: 144 Year Published: Feb. 2009 Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Age Group: YA, ages 12+ Content: Spookiness Buy or Borrow? Both

Enjoyed It: 3/5 Rating:

Special thanks to Mr. Patrick Carman for sending me his book!

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Where y'at, Iris?

There is nothing to do in Odine, Louisiana, except maybe hang out at the cemetery, listen to ghosts, and cast pretend spells. The summer Iris and and her friend, Collette, turn fourteen, that's just what they do. It's all fun and games until Iris truly sees and hears a "ghost" at the cemetery. After an incident with a Ouija board (witchboard), the ghost reveals himself as Elijah, the boy who mysteriously disappeared several years before Iris was born. With the help of Ben-Colette's latest crush- and Collete, Iris must find out what really happened that night in 1989 and why her dad is so hesitant in shedding some light on the subject. It seems all of Odine wants to forget "The Incident with the Landry Boy", all that is, except Iris and of course Elijah's restless ghost.

*****

Shadowed Summer was a short read and after 3 hours and a severe adrenaline rush, I can only say that this book not only made your skin crawl but was written quite well for a first time thriller writer.

The combination of a ghost story, friendship, and growing up made the story even more unforgettable. The characters were very well developed and there was more background than just the ghost haunts. The end really caught me off guard, I literally yelled, "What!" so loud it scared my poor cat. I even found myself re-reading the end just in case I missed something. (Personally I think the whole reason for Elijah's ghost to go haunting was a bit weird, but that's a physiological thriller for you).

Whew. I'm glad I'm done reading and writing the review for it. (Can you hear my heart beating?) Now I'm off to prepare the final resting place of Shadowed Summer-where else do you hide the boogie monsters?-in the closet. Yeah, it was that spooky.

Mitchell does in fact have a knack for storytelling, but I don't think I could handle another ghost story. I would not recommend this book to you if you get scared easily or, better yet-to take care of the recommendation-read if you dare.

Pages: 180 Year Published: 2009 Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Age Group: YA (ages 14+) Content: Horror

Enjoyed It: 4/5 Rating:

The Parliament of Blood by Justin Richards

After reading the Twilight series, I had enough of “good” vampires. There are tons of vampire books, but can you believe there are very few with “bad” vampires in them?

It makes you wonder if anybody knows that vampires were considered evil (yeah, sorry girls, if vampires were real, chances are Edward would be more interested in his next meal than getting a girlfriend) or that they are more monster than human.

I mean, seriously, if vamps really existed, they’d probably be laughing their fangs off reading all the stuff we’ve come up with about them (no offense readers and authors).

[Somewhere near a dark forest, in a misty grave yard, a muffled voice from deep within the earth says, “None taken.”]

Um, did you hear something? Ooookay.......

My idea of a vamp novel would be a good old fashion one where the vampires are “bad”-ya know the ones where the villagers hang garlic on their doors and scream “AHHH! Vampire, run! instead of “OMG! It’s Edward!! Pinch me!”. With much searching, I found one:

It all starts out with Sir William and his discovery of an old sarcophagus in the Unclassified Department where he works in the London Museum (aka the department full of stuff that the museum doesn’t have a special room for, or things that They don’t want anyone to see). And for the record, museums really do have stuff on file that has been discovered blah blah years ago, but has never been displayed. Kinda of creepy if you ask me.

After a little accident with a knife and some spilled blood, the mummy comes to life and is picked up a mysterious driver and his coach that has a symbol on it. Was it a prank or something dangerously real? When George Archer and Sir William find some mysterious photographs that reveal literally nothing, lets just say they’ve really uncovered something worth show casing.

With the police involved, half the nobles attending a centuries old secret Club, and all their witnesses turning up either dead or undead, George, Eddie, Liz, and Sir William must get to the bottom of this......before it’s too late.

Parliament of Blood is told from the human’s side of story and is clearly a humans vs. vampires book like that of Dracula. The book takes place in the late 1800s and sticks to traditional and historical vampire facts and legends. I gave it four B.L.Ts not because there was anything in it, but because it was a tad creepy at times.

I’m glad I choose this vampy book, but I for one won’t be reading another thriller book for awhile.

(Not good for the subconscious mind.)

And, oh yes, don’t read this book at night.......

Pages: 359 Year Published: 2008 Genre:: Thriller/Horror

Age Group: YA, ages 14+ Content: HorrorRecommend? Yes

Enjoyed It: 5/5 Rating:

Book previews or book clips are becomeng very popular. Some book previews are just pictures, but some I have seen with actual actors. I decided to make a book preview for Parliament of Blood. I hope to feature more of my "home-made" book previews in the future or simply do a podcast of a review.

Make sure to turn up your sound! Tell me what you think: