Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin

Synopsis: Sophie Blue is so goth she’s roadkill, at least in her dreams, as she searches for her lost father and tries to find herself. Review: Fade to Blue is very, very hip and very, very stylish–so much so that it made me feel old because I didn’t really get it. I am kind of old, closer to middle- than teenage, so maybe that’s okay. The writing is fantastic, and the plotting creative, but I just didn’t click with it. I think many teens will,…

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Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove

Synopsis: After the sudden death of her husband, a young widow begins to hear his voice at the same time she experiences a sort of amnesia about their last months. Review: Boy, I was really not expecting Talking to the Dead to be such a page-turner! I thought it was going to be an Anne Tyler-esque meditation on grief, loss, and moving on, and since I feared it might be a little dull, it languished on my TBR stack. The book actually has a solid…

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Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

Synopsis: Five teenagers at an elite Manhattan private school game the system–because they’ve sold their souls to the devil. Review: When I picked up Another Faust, my expectations were low. I figured it was going to be yet another first in a series capitalizing on Gossip Girls and Twilight. Don’t get me wrong–I figured I would like it–but I didn’t expect anything more than light entertainment. So I was thrilled to realize that Another Faust was a spiritual and literary heir to the Gothic tradition…

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North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (Wingfeather)

Synopsis: Book two in the fantastical journey of the children who are the Lost Jewels of Anniera, a kingdom of legend, as they flee for their lives from those who would see them defeated. Review: As the name might suggest, North! Or Be Eaten is a whimsical adventure filled with inventive language and fantastical creatures. I was really impressed by Andrew Peterson‘s skill in surprising me on every page. The book is quite wholesome, but also has a delightful edginess–not in terms of being overly…

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Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Synopsis: A 6-year-old wunderkind enters Battle School to train to defeat the aggressive, invading Buggers. Review: This was actually my first foray into audiobooks on the iPod. I am a huge fan of podcasts, but had yet to tackle a book during the time I spend pushing my stroller and nursing Superfast Toddler to sleep. I figured Ender’s Game was a good entrée, since I have read it before and it wasn’t terribly long, only 11 hours. Since it only took me 2 or 3…

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The Book That Made America by Jerry Newcombe

Synopsis: Subtitled: How The Bible Formed Our Nation. Review: In The Book That Made America, author Jerry Newcombe lays out a compelling case for the influence that the Bible and Christianity had over the writing of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other key documents in the formation of America. It’s worth reading by anyone with an interest in early American history and current politics. However, the book suffers a bit by preaching to the choir. Using Ann Coulter as one of your experts…

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The Hunted by Brian Haig

Synopsis: A political thriller about a Russian businessman on the wrong side of his own country–and the United States. Review: I picked up The Hunted because I’m intrigued by Russia, having spent 10 days in St. Petersburg about a decade ago. However, the book turned out to be the kind of manly political thriller that I just can’t get into. I was hoping for John Le Carre but it was more Tom Clancy/Nelson DeMille (I’m actually just guessing on those, because I don’t know the…

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Enna Burning by Shannon Hale

Synopsis: Given the power to summon fire, a young girl finds herself torn between duty to her country and her fears that she will be consumed by magic. Review: Enna Burning is a sequel of sorts to The Goose Girl, but as far as I know it is not based on a fairy tale. Enna is goose girl Isi’s confidante, and her adventure begins when her brother Leifert shows up with a mysterious vellum that has granted him the ability to summon fire. But his…

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Live Deeply and Live Relationally

Synopsis: Two Bible study guides, one on the parables and the other on the women of the Bible. Review: Live Deeply and Live Relationally are part of the Fresh Life series of Bible studies. Set up to take about 20 minutes a day, these studies are inductive in nature and take you through Bible passages in order to deepen your understanding of the Bible. They present historical context and make ample use of cross-references. They look to be educational in nature, as opposed to therapeutic,…

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I Can See You by Karen Rose

Synopsis: A serial killer stalks women through a virtual reality world. Review: I Can See You is a pretty formulaic serial killer story. I’m always hoping for something more when I pick up books like this, but unfortunately it didn’t hold any surprises. I’m sure if you are a fan of the genre, you will enjoy the book. I can take or leave serial killer thrillers, so this one just didn’t do it for me.

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