In a not so distant future, young married couple Frida and Cal have fled a ruined Los Angeles and built a fragile new life on their own in the wilderness, content with only each other until Frida discovers she is pregnant. Their sudden reentry into community forces Cal and Frida to reexamine their ideas about themselves, each other, and the strength of their principles when their unborn child's safety is at stake. California is a gripping read and the future that Lepucki imagines seems frighteningly plausible and close at hand.
Katie
Kidnapped from the airport and told that he is in grave danger, Wil finds himself on the run from the mysterious and menacing "poets," while teenager Emily escapes homelessness with an invitation to a prestigious and exclusive school that teaches much more than your average subjects. The two parallel stories eventually converge as Barry reveals more and more pieces of the puzzle in an action-packed thriller with the power of words and language at its center.
Katie
After her mother is accused of witchcraft Kara tries to hold her family together. But when Kara is lured into the cursed forest of the Thickety, she finds an object of immense power and is forced to face the truth about herself and her mother's past. Dark, creepy, and action-packed, with an ending that will leave readers anxious for the next installment.
Katie
Finally something creative and unexpected in the overdone dystopian genre, Red Rising is a cross between dystopian, science fiction and epic war fantasy that packs a punch. Some parallels to The Hunger Games are there, but this book stands alone - darker, more intense, more emotional and ambitious. I couldn't put it down.
Katie
When war breaks out in England against an unnamed Enemy, fifteen year old Daisy and her four cousins are left alone on their isolated farm, at first blissfully unaffected by the deterioration of the world around them - until the war comes to them, and their idyllic adventures turn into a fight for survival, hope, and each other. Daisy's engaging voice and stream of consciousness narration give a dreamlike feel to the harsh realities they face and the strange ways that people change and come together in the face of hardship. Recommended for ages 14 and older.
Katie
A charming and funny coming of age story set in a small English town during World War II. Beautiful writing, rich detail, and the smart, quirky, honest narration of thirteen year old aspiring writer Jessica Vye make this an enjoyable and captivating read for both adults and teens.
Katie
During the Nazi siege of Leningrad, an unlikely duo have one chance to save themselves from execution - find a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter's wedding cake. City of Thieves is a gripping adventure and coming of age story that ricochets between comedy and tragedy on a single page.
Katie
Wool began as a self-published online short story, but reader demand prompted a series of installments that combined form this omnibus edition. Parts one and two build the claustrophobic and menacing atmosphere of this unique dystopian world before launching into an action packed second half full of memorable characters and compelling storylines.
Katie