The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

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What could be worse than being dumped? How about pining all summer for your boyfriend, and then being dumped as soon as he gets back on the first day of school. So Lucy is having the worst first day of school, when she gets an intriguing offer. Three beautiful and charismatic girls offer Lucy a way to heal her broken heart and gain real power. All she has to do is make someone fall in love with her and then break that person’s heart in the next seven days.

The premise of the book did not sound good to me, but I liked Weingarten’s last book “Wherever Nina Lies” so I gave this one a chance. It was surprisingly good. The characters are all believable, and there is some great advice about self-perception, popularity, and guys. The ending is a little sad, but overall I like the story. At different parts of the book you are not sure if Lucy’s new friends are good guys or bad guys. It makes for an interesting read. I would recommend this for girls who like humor, and romance.

Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

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Alyss is a princess in Wonderland. Her mother is the queen and ruler of the land. When her evil Aunt Redd wants to take over Alyss and Hatter find themselves out of Wonderland and into the mortal realm. Alyss makes friends with a writer who tells her story, but he messes the whole thing up. Alyss told him the truth and he made a book about a girl named Alice who uses her imagination to go on an adventure. She is furious. As she grows up and finally makes her way back to Wonderland she must face many challenges to take her place as the rightful queen of Wonderland.

I liked the retelling of the story from a different point of view. This book is intended for audiences 10 and up. My older teens liked it, but they thought the story might be better for middle school than high school. They didn’t really feel a connection to any of the characters. Overall it was an ok book, but I wasn’t blown away by the story.

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

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Kit and Fancy are sisters living in a strange town.  They are outcasts because their father is the Bonesaw Killer.  He is a serial killer who is on death row, while the girls and their mother live in the same small town they have always been in.  The sisters are their father's daughter, and soon they give into the same dark desires that their father indulged in.  Are they bad people because they love blood?  As the sisters discover who they are, they face dangers like bad guys, good boys, and the truth about what they do.

This book is Dexter meets Sweet Valley High.  Sisters ,who on top of dealing with being teenagers and discovering what boys are all about, are also facing a father on death row and their own dark desires for revenge and blood.  What's a burgeoning serial killer to do?  The town that they live in, although in the regular world, is strange and filled with mysterious monsters.  The blood and guts are a little overwhelming, especially in the beginning of the book.  After a while I got used to the gore and really started to enjoy the story.  It feels wrong to cheer for the killers, but in this crazy town they are the lesser of the evils.   I love the book cover and I would recommend the book to more mature teen readers who don't mind a little cursing, romance, blood and guts.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

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Did you read Hush, Hush?  If not read it now.  I can wait.  Ok, now read Crescendo.  This is the sequel to Hush, Hush.  Nora and Patch are back.  Will undying, inhuman love survival the wrath of Archangels and Nephilim?  Read it and find out.

I loved Hush, Hush because Nora was such a strong female character and she went with her gut when she thought things where not right with Patch.  The sequel has Nora acting a little crazy, and Patch is off doing things he should not be.  The amount of action in the story is great but some of the twists seemed a little soap opera-esk. The ending is amazing and had me squealing out loud.  Overall I liked the story and I want to know what happens next.  I hope the next book come out soon, and wraps up the story.  Now that we know Patch’s real name all we need to do is figure out who Nora really is and how she will be able to decide the fate of Heaven and Hell.  

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

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Lisabeth is anorexic but she won’t admit it even to herself. One night after a bad fight with her boyfriend she tries to kill herself. Death appears before her with the Scales of Office. She will be the Black Rider; One of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. She, a suburban teen with an eating disorder, will be Famine. As her supernatural powers grow, so does her control over her own body. She meets the other Horsemen and learns that there are no easy ways out.


When I heard eating disorder I almost put the book down because I hate reading those books. Those stories are too serious and too sad. I’m glad I read it. The story was powerful and the author really captured what it’s like to have an eating disorder. The writing is realistic and heartfelt, but without sacrificing humor. The book is well written and powerful. My only complaint is that she revealed the inside joke about death. I liked that only someone in their thirties would recognize the description of death for who he was. As the book goes on the author gives away the secret with big hints. I like knowing something that the teens in my book club don’t know about the book. I wish she would have kept the secret a little better. I recommend this book to guys and girls who have had or know someone who has had an eating disorder, and to those who like reading about the four Horsemen.

There is a new book in the series.  It will be published on 4/4/2011.  I can't wait to read it.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

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Move over Harry Potter... Hogwarts has nothing on Hex Hall.  Sophie is a witch.  Her dad is a warlock and her mom is a regular person.  When her magic gets out of control she is sentenced to an education at Hecate Hall; a school for magical creatures.  Now that she is living in the magical world she starts to realize how much she has missed out by living in the regular world.  Her new school has mean witchy girls, vampires, fairies, shapeshifters, and someone who is attacking girls in the school.  Sophie is intent on figuring out her magic and finding out who is really to blame for the attacks on the girls at school.  

I loved the book.  I read it in one night because it is such a fun and fast read.  None of the characters are one dimensional (even the villains have layers).  I was surprised by the end of the book because there is more than one twist.  This is a must read if you ever wondered what it would be like to have powers.

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki

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When you lay in bed, trying to sleep, and the shadows around you seem to grow do you ever see something waiting for you...coming closer?  Maybe what’s hiding in the shadow is the Nightmarys, or something worse.  

Tim is a regular kid in 7th grade.  He has a best friend, classes, and a family he loves.  When he sees something impossible on a school field trip to a museum it doesn’t worry him too much.  When those weird things start appearing everywhere, including the locker room, he starts to be afraid that what he’s seeing is real.  Together with the new girl, Abigail, they must figure out what is making their fears come to life and walk around.

This book is Juvenile Fiction, so it has no blood and guts.  It’s a different kind of scary.  It’s the kind of scary where you are laying in bed looking at the shadows and you start thinking, “Did something in that shadow move?”  This book got to me, and I’m not a little kid.  It was great.  Anyone who likes being a little scared should read the book.  This is Dan Poblocki’s second book.  His first The Stone Child is also great, scary, and has an original plot line.  Both are well written, frightening, and highly recommended by me.

Unfamiliar Magic by R.C. Alexander

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          Desi is a 13 year old witch. Her mom is a witch and she’s never met her dad. She and her mom live in the regular world. She has to go to regular school, brush her teeth, and make her bed. Her mother doesn’t want her doing much magic and is incredibly overprotective. She’s always afraid that people will find out they are witches but there is something else; something her mom isn’t telling her. They move from town to town every year and Desi doesn’t know why. She’s spent her entire life on the run, but when her mom disappears and leaves her cat (now turned into a human teenager) in charge her whole world is turned upside down.


          WOW!! This book is awesome. The book is well written and will appeal to teen girls. The main character is 13 and she is just starting to come into magic. The real appeal in the story is the relationships. The mother / daughter relationship is one that most girls and women can understand and relate to. Mom wants her daughter to be safe; daughter thinks she’s old enough to do what she wants. They both need each other and love each other fiercely. The Relationship between the cat and Desi is amazing. There is so much comedy as the cat learns to act like a human girl. (The cat parts are laugh our loud funny.) There is a little romance between two of the characters, but nothing that would make you blush. One little kiss. Overall this is one of the best chic lit books that I have read in a while.