Category Archives: Horror/Mystery/Suspense

“The Girl on the Train”

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins   Rachel Watsons might be able to stop obsessing over her ex-husband,–who is now remarried and has a child–if she could stop drinking, stop envying the new wife, and most of all, … Continue reading

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Scars”

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield   It’s clear from the cover of Scars that the novel is about a girl who cus herself. It isn’t the first book I’ve read about cutting, but what pulled me into this one was the … Continue reading

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“We Were Liars”

     We Were Liars by E. Lockhart As the first grandchild of Harris Sinclair, Cadence has a lot to gain. The Sinclairs are east-coast old money whose family came to the U. S. on the Mayflower. Harris owns a … Continue reading

Posted in Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mystery/Humor: “Croak”

Croak by Gina Damico   For no reason she can figure out, sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby is one crazy angry girl. Previously normal and a good student, the high school junior can barely get through a day of school without punching … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: “Motherless Child”

   Motherless Child by Glen Hirshberg Bad girl Natalie doesn’t immediately realize that her wild night with pop singer The Whistler and best friend Sophie has done her damage forever . That’s really forever rather than a lifetime; she has … Continue reading

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Blackbird”

     Blackbird by Anna Carey OK, yes, you have read this sort of story before, and you‘ve seen it in movies. Someone with amnesia wakes up. Without a memory, that person has to piece his or her life together … Continue reading

Posted in Adventure Stories, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Reads: “Dead End in Norvelt”

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos    What an entertaining mix of fact and fiction about growing up in a small town. Founded by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during the Great Depression, by the early 1960’s, Norvelt is dying … Continue reading

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“School Spirits”

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins    Related to the Hex Hall series Izzy Brannick hunts monsters of all types. However, she finds tracking and binding ghosts to be less than challenging. So when her mom (Aislinn) tells her that they are … Continue reading

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer”

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin   Awaking from a coma, Mara remembers nothing of the accident that landed her in the hospital and killed her best friend, her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s sister. They had all entered … Continue reading

Posted in Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Freaks Like Us”

Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught    Sunshine is the one person who understands Jason, who helps him when the voices in his head make it hard to know what is real and what is an illusion. The two of … Continue reading

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment