Come Find Me by Megan Miranda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kennedy’s mother and her boyfriend were murdered 6 months ago, and Kennedy’s brother, Elliott, is in jail, accused of their murder. One night while searching for answers on her brother’s satellite, Kennedy picks up an unexplained signal and posts about it on a technology message board. Nolan’s brother, Liam, disappeared 2 years ago, and even though his parents scour missing person reports daily, there haven’t been any leads until the day that Nolan picks up a signal in Liam’s bedroom with his EMF reader. Nolan finds Kennedy’s online message, and the two of them join forces to try to find answers to the tragedies that have shaped both of their lives.

Despite the Stranger Things beginning, this novel took me on a roller coaster ride full of twists and turns that I never saw coming. Readers looking for a good mystery with suspenseful action will not be let down, but those looking for something in the realms of the paranormal should look elsewhere. The bond that forms between Kennedy and Nolan in their search for the truth helps ease the grief and pain when they ultimately unravel the answers to all of their questions. Recommended for gr. 9-12.

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The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Willa has had a crush on her next door neighbor, Zach, for as long as she can remember. That really complicates things when Zach breaks up with Willa’s best friend, Flor, and Willa realizes that Zach reciprocates her feelings. What is Willa supposed to do about the Girl Code? Meanwhile, Flor is dealing with her father’s new girlfriend who is merely 8 years older than Flor but seems to be insinuating herself into Flor’s life in spite of Flor’s feelings toward her. As a result of everything that’s going on, Flor’s grades are suffering, so she finds a tutor to help her. Grayson keeps to himself and is initially dismissive of Flor’s rich girl problems, but the attraction between them grows as they start spending more time together. Will the friendship between Willa and Flor survive all of the secrecy and Girl Code violations?

Written in alternating chapters between Willa and Flor with Girl Code rules posted as chapter headings, this was a fun, lighthearted read. While the focus of the book is on the development of the two romantic relationships, Willa’s struggle to balance her friendship with her own desires makes this a good read for those wanting books about strong female friendships. Recommended for gr. 9-12.

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Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In this sequel to Fat Angie, things have gone from bad to worse for Angie. Her sister, the war hero, has died in Iraq, and Angie is experiencing all of the stages of grief simultaneously. It doesn’t help that her mother has made it clear that she wished Angie had died instead of her sister. Angie is still being bullied at school, her girlfriend has moved away, and her best friend Jake is dating Stacy Ann, one of her worst tormentors. When Angie has had enough and breaks bully Gary Klein’s nose in self defence, Angie’s mom threatens to send her to Whispering Oaks, a juvenile rehabilitation facility with behavior modification treatments for challenging teens, including conversion therapy for those experiencing “sexual identiy crisis.” Angie decides to take a road trip with an estranged friend who has recently moved back to town: Jamboree Memphis Jordon. Jamboree’s RV, her friend Zeke, and tag-along Darius prove to be the perfect companions and cheerleaders as Angie decides to do everything on her sister’s road trip wish list. Even though everything on the list terrifies her, Angie realizes that there are some things that she just needs to do in order to figure out how to live.

It had been 3 years since I had read Fat Angie, and even though the sequel mostly stands on its own, it helps to have read the first book. It took me a couple of tries to get into the sequel, however, mostly because I didn’t really care for Angie as a character in either book. Her use of “gay-girl-gay” to describe herself was annoying to me; I never really understood why “gay” wouldn’t suffice. The use of 80s and 90s songs for chapter headings also annoyed me. I know that many adults are now reading YA literature for fun, but the primary audience is still teens, and I don’t know many teens who are familiar with music from my generation. Angie has many, many issues, and I wanted to like her because she has been through a lot, but I just didn’t find her to be a likeable character. Readers should be aware that there are many instances of violence, fat-shaming, homophobia, and hate speech, with references to suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Parts of the book, specifically the road trip, were fun, and I was rooting for Angie to accomplish everything on her sister’s list. Other parts, however, were unrealistic and played on stereotypes. Overall, I would only recommend this book to students in gr. 9-12 who read and enjoyed Fat Angie. Otherwise, it’s an optional purchase.

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Dear Heartbreak: YA Authors and Teens on the Dark Side of Love by Heather Demetrios
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The editor of this book asked young adults from all over the world to write a letter to Heartbreak, and they did not disappoint. From detailed missives to simple “F*ck you” notes, young adults poured their hearts out about their experiences with Heartbreak. Young Adult authors read those letters and they each picked one that spoke to them so strongly that they couldn’t NOT respond. The result is a heartfelt give and take with those who have experienced similar pain.

Teens reading this book will probably see themselves in at least one of the letters to Heartbreak. The responses from the mostly female YA authors are equally heartfelt and sincere, and those who are familiar with the works of these authors will find themselves admiring them even more. For example, I did not know that Libba Bray had been disfigured in a car accident when she was 18 and had lost an eye. I absolutely adore Libba Bray and her books, but that made me love and appreciate her all the more. Heartbreak is universal, but having someone that you respect and admire tell you that you will be okay, that you will be stronger because of the experience, and that the important thing is that you love yourself, is very powerful. Highly recommended for gr. 9-12.

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That Night by Amy Giles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jess and Lucas both lost siblings in the school shooting that changed their lives forever. Jess’ mom is so depressed that she can’t get out of bed, and so Jess has had to become the adult in the family, paying bills, making meals, and keeping the house clean. Lucas’ parents have become so overprotective that Lucas has taken up boxing in order to release some of his pent-up stress and to have an excuse to get out of the house. When Jess and Lucas end up working at the same after-school job, they realize that their shared tragedy might be the foundation upon which a solid friendship can be built in order to help them move on.

The grief in this book is palpable. The characters are believable and raw, and their sorrow will rip your heart out. School shootings happen so often that we have become immune to the horrific aftermath, but these characters show readers that shooting victims are not just statistics, but human beings with families and friends who love them and mourn for them profoundly when they’re gone. Recommended for gr. 9-12.

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Any Second by Kevin Emerson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kidnapped and brainwashed for three and a half years by a madman known only as Gabriel, Elian is trying to fulfill Gabriel's “Purpose” when the bomb that is strapped to his chest refuses to detonate at the mall. Maya, at the mall with her dad, intervenes and is hailed as a hero for saving everyone-- including Elian--but suffers from PTSD afterward. Fast forward many months, and Maya and Eli now go to the same high school. They aren’t supposed to interact in order to protect Eli’s true identity, but they find themselves drawn to each other because of their shared traumatic experience. As the anniversary of the failed bombing draws near, Maya and Eli struggle with the knowledge that Gabriel was never found, and there is a distinct possibility that he will try to find them.

Issues of violence, self-harm, sexual assault, drug use, and animal abuse make this a book appropriate for mature readers only. Written in first person with chapters that alternate between the voices of Elian and Maya, readers are able to get inside their heads and really see the damage that has been caused. In spite of events that might have broken others, Elian and Maya are survivors--barely, but survivors nonetheless--and it’s gratifying to watch them put themselves back together again. I did not like the cop-out ending, however, which is why my rating isn’t higher. Recommended for gr. 10-12.

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The Museum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sadie has been hiding a secret for quite some time, but when she crashes her car and calls out for George, her imaginary world of adventure and escape is in danger of being exposed and maybe even destroyed.

While Sadie was a sympathetic character who was obviously struggling to deal with a traumatic event in her past, I didn't find her to be a believable character. Her inability to see the good in her life--a boyfriend who is obviously smitten with her, even though she refuses to let him in; a best friend who wishes that Sadie would get her head out of the clouds and live in the moment-- is typical of those who struggle with mental illness, but I didn't find her escapades with George to be a desirable alternative. They went on extravagant and extraordinary adventures together, but he didn't seem to make her happy. The book ended in a satisfactory way, but Sadie's final decision didn't seem like it should have been a difficult choice to make. I didn't love this book, but teens may be able to relate to Sadie's struggles.

Recommended for gr. 9-12.

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The Stars at Oktober Bend by Glenda Millard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having experienced a traumatic event and crushing head blows when she was 12, Alice has trouble expressing herself verbally, and instead writes poems. She feels stuck at age 12 to the outside world, but inside she is longing to prove to the world that she is more than just what happened to her. Manny, a former child soldier from Sierra Leone, runs to escape the brutalities of his past. He’s trying to adjust to his new family and his new life, but he feels just as broken as Alice. When he finds one of her poems, her words speak to him, and the two forge a connection in spite of their differences and in spite of those who want to beat them down and keep them apart.

This book and the characters will haunt you long after you finish the last page. Alice’s words are insightful and revealing in their simplistic beauty. The protective love that envelopes Alice, her brother Joey, their grandmother and grandfather, and their dog Bear, is enviable, and when Alice’s full story is revealed, readers feel that same sense of protection and love toward all of them. The ending will leave you breathless, but filled with hope that love and courage can heal all.

Highly recommended for gr. 9-12.

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Dare You by Jennifer Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In this sequel to Shade Me (Nikki Kill #1), Nikki learns that Luna is out of prison and is probably the one responsible for framing Nikki for Peyton Hollis’ murder. With Detective Martinez’ help, Nikki tries to follow Peyton’s synesthetic clues in order to clear her name and to find Peyton’s real murderer.

Full disclosure: I hadn’t read the first book, Shade Me, prior to reading Dare You. I was able to figure out the plot and untangle the web of characters easily enough, but I’m sure I would have enjoyed Dare You a lot more if I’d read the first book. Nikki Kill is a complicated character. She has bad-ass tendencies, but she also finds it hard to trust people and let them in, which gets to be annoying after awhile. I didn’t really care about her as a character, and I didn’t find the romance between Nikki and the detective very believable. Her synesthesia is interesting, but I didn’t feel as though it made her a better detective. It made her more intuitive, I suppose, but I also found it annoying that she didn’t want to tell anyone about her special ability. The book is hefty—473 pages—and moves too slowly at times. A good editor should have helped cut out a lot of the boring, unnecessary parts. Having said all that, the cliff-hanger ending did inspire me to order the next book from the library. I haven’t started it yet, but I would like to see how the series ends.

Recommended for gr. 9-12 in libraries where Shade Me is popular; optional purchase otherwise.

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Run the Risk by Allison van Diepen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Grace is worried about her fifteen year old brother, Alex, who is becoming more involved with the Locos. Alex had been arrested a year ago for armed robbery with the other members of the gang. Luckily for Alex, the charges had been dropped, but Grace's senior year had been trashed and her acceptance at Miami-Dade College had been revoked due to her plummeting grades. She enrolled in online classes to try to bring her grades up and get back into the Early Childhood program at Miami-Dade, but her worries about Alex are once again threatening her chance for a better life. When her ex-boyfriend, Mateo, gets a job at the movie theater where Grace works, she seizes an opportunity to blackmail him into spending time with Alex. She and Mateo had broken up because she hadn't wanted him to join the Los Reyes gang, but now that Mateo was out of the gang, Grace thought that he could help convince Alex to steer clear of gang life as well. Things begin to heat up again between Grace and Mateo, but she senses that he's not telling her everything.

If you're looking for a romance with some gang activity thrown in for good measure, this is the book for you. I really liked Grace's character. She had a lot of grit and was determined to make a better life for herself and her brother. I appreciated the overall message (gangs are bad; stay out of them for real), but there were some flaws. I didn't understand why Grace's and Alex's dad was never around. He was a trucker, which meant that he had to be on the road a lot, but he spent a lot of time with his girlfriend in Atlanta when he could have been at home instead. Certainly after Alex's arrest, one would think that their dad would get a clue and come home more often to make sure that Alex wasn't getting into any more trouble, but that wasn't the case. He eventually became more dad-like, but it took some extreme circumstances to wake him up to the reality of Alex's situation. The ending was pretty predictable, but I was not displeased by how things worked out.

Recommended for gr. 9-12.

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