The Cursed

The Cursed is by Michael Panckridge. Lewis is a teenage boy in a boarding school. His father was killed in the Amazon on a scientific mission to find a tribe of invisible people. Now his mother, cursed by the tribe while pregnant with Lewis, has disappeared - literally. Lewis finds himself drawn into a plot by an evil organization to discover the secret of invisibility. His mother's friend Jonathon, Lewis, and his school friend Abby find themselves in the Amazon trying to find his mother and protect the invisible tribe from the Light Crusaders. A fast read for young readers looking for action.

Ratings: 6th grade - 5 out of 10 - V (violence).

Legend

Legend is by Marie Lu. The first book in a new dystopian fiction series. June is a teen born into one of the Republic's wealthiest families. She is a prodigy meant to follow in the footsteps of her brother Metias. When Metias is killed by the Republic's most wanted criminal June is determined to hunt him down and see him brought to justice. Fifteen-year-old Day was born in the slums of the Republic, but is he really the evil character the Republic makes him seem? As June gets to know Day she begins to wonder if everything she has been told all her life is really the truth. Boys and girls will enjoy this series.

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

Catch-22

Catch-22 is by Joseph Heller. One of the classic war novels of all time. Heller writes about a bomber group stationed on a fictional Mediterranean island during WWII. Yossarian doesn't want to fly any more missions because people are trying to kill him. Even though he has completed his allotted number of missions he is not allowed to go home because of the infamous Catch-22 which states that you must be crazy to be grounded, but if you ask to be grounded that proves you are not crazy since not wanting to go into dangerous situations is a rational thought, and if you have rational thoughts you can't be insane. Heller uses hilarious farce to draw attention to bleak and horrible circumstances. This novel is a classic for a reason, a Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.

Ratings: 11th grade - 10 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

That Was Then, This is Now

That Was Then, This is Now is by S.E. Hinton. Byron & Mark have been friends since childhood. Byron's mother even took Mark in after the death of his parents. But now things are changing, Byron has found a girl he really likes and he and Mark are growing apart. A heart-wrenching tale of growing up and the consequences of the choices we make. Fans of The Outsiders will love this book.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

Dune

Dune is by Frank Herbert. The first book in the Dune Chronicles. The science fiction classic about political intrigue and revolution on the desert world of Arrakis. A must read for science fiction lovers!

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

Secrets in the Shadows

Secrets in the Shadows is by Anne Schraff. The third book in the Bluford High series. Roylin wants to impress a new girl so he "borrows" money from an elderly neighbor. When the building super confronts Roylin with Mr. Miller's death and threatens to tell the police he stole the money, Roylin's life becomes a nightmare.

Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan is by Nancy Springer. The fourth book in the Enola Holmes series. Enola must keep her friend Lady Cecily from being forced into marriage. Unbeknownst to Enola, Cecily's mother has hired her brother Sherlock to stop the marriage as well. Can Enola prevent the marriage and avoid her brothers at the same time? A cute series girls will enjoy.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.