Tag Archives: Young Adult

Another Pan by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

American Literature September 23, 2010 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When Peter Pan and his Lost Boys descend on a chic Manhattan boarding school, a brother and sister become embroiled in his plan to reclaim 5 ancient mummies who hold the secret to eternal life. Review: In the interest of full disclosure, I sometimes work with Daniel Nayeri, and have even had him and his lovely wife over to my house for dinner. So please don’t expect anything resembling objectivity. I’m a big fan of Daniel and his sister Dina’s unique brand of classic…

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

American Literature August 29, 2010 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: Now in the hands of rebel forces, Katniss Everdeen becomes the symbol for the battle against the Capitol, even as the human toll of her actions in the arena and out begins to break her sanity. Review: First reads of final books are always tough to evaluate, because desperation to have story questions answered (Team Gale/Team Peeta) make it hard to slow down and enjoy the ride. Mockingjay is much more action-y than the previous two books, and the pacing is fast fast fast.…

Everwild by Neal Shusterman (Skinjacker Trilogy)

American Literature July 24, 2010 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: Allie the Outcast, the Chocolate Ogre, the McGill, and Mary Queen of Snots meet up with Jackin’ Jill and Zach the Ripper and discover that there’s a lot more to Everlost than just limbo after death. Review: In Everwild, Neal Shusterman deepens the mythology he created in Everlost, adding new characters and concepts with tremendous panache. Allie the Outcast has discovered the power to leap into the bodies of the still living, and when she joins forces with a small group of fellow skinjackers,…

Everlost by Neal Shusterman (The Skinjacker Trilogy)

American Literature July 20, 2010 Superfast Reader 7 Comments

Synopsis: Two teens find themselves in a limbo world between life and death. Review: I first read about Everlost on It’s All About Books and was totally intrigued by Suey’s rave review. Nick and Allie were victims of a fatal car accident, but instead of making it to the bright white light they were bumped into Everlost. They learn quickly that they have to keep moving or else they will sink through the ground all the way to the center of the earth. There are…

Wayfarer by RJ Anderson

American Literature June 22, 2010 Superfast Reader 7 Comments

Synopsis: A rogue fairy escapes her magical world and teams up with a regular boy in order to save Faery and the human world from a devastating threat. Review: Wayfarer might be a fairy story, but it’s mostly set in the normal world and works very hard to keep things grounded and as realistic as possible. I have to admit that I was more engaged by the relationship between Linden and Timothy than anything else that was going on. Wayfarer is the sequel to Faery…

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

American Literature June 1, 2010 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: The only girl aboard a ship bound for America, 13-year-old Charlotte Doyle finds herself embroiled in mutiny and a murder plot, and only ingenuity, bravery, and mad rigging skills will save her. Review: Set in 1832, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is a fast-paced, Gothic-tinged action story featuring a most intrepid heroine in a most unusual situation. Charlotte’s family booked passage aboard the Seahawk for her to return from boarding school to her home in Rhode Island, but upon her arrival aboard ship…

Holes by Louis Sachar

American Literature May 31, 2010 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Sent to a camp for juvenile delinquents, Stanley Yelnats is forced to dig holes for the duration of his sentence, but when he figures out that the Warden is looking for something, he decides to take action. Review: The reputation of Holes is well-deserved. It’s a fast-paced read with plenty of original plot elements that would appeal to both girls and boys. I’m glad I finally picked this one up and will be saving it for the permanent library for Superfast Toddler & Superfast…

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

American Literature May 30, 2010 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Incarceron is a living prison from which no one can escape, but when the warden’s daughter makes a shocking discovery, she works to break Incarceron’s protections with the aid of a boy who believes he was born on the outside. Review: I attempted to listen to the audio book of Incarceron, but the late stages of pregnancy has made it impossible for me to concentrate on anything more complicated than nursery rhymes. But the concept really grabbed me, so I snagged a copy through…

Love Will Keep Us Together by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt (Miracle Girls)

On Reading April 30, 2010 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: It’s senior year for the Miracle Girls, and thank to Ivy League pressure, the return of an ex-boyfriend, and a pregnant girl in youth group, golden girl Riley McGee is having a serious crisis of identity–and faith. Review: I’ve been following the Miracle Girls from the beginning, thanks to my friendship with co-writer Anne Dayton. Love Will Keep Us Together is a worthy conclusion to a fun series that really speaks to the tough issues facing Christian girls in today’s culture. I highly recommend…

Warriors in the Crossfire by Nancy Bo Flood

American Literature April 27, 2010 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: A fictional account of the invasion of Saipan in the south Pacific during WWII as told through the eyes of a native boy and his half-Japanese cousin. Review: For the history-buff teen, Warriors in the Crossfire is one to check out. Meticulously researched and well-plotted, author Nancy Bo Flood makes a forgotten incident from WWII come alive with poetic imagery and no shortage of action and adventure. For me, personally, it didn’t grip me as much as I wanted it to, but war stories…

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