The Rule of Three- Fight for Power by Eric Walters

The first thing I have to say is that Eric Walter's really should know better than to publish a high anticipated novel during report card time. I picked this book up this week and couldn't get anything done until I finished it. The second thing I have to say is if you haven't read The Rule of Three- you need to do that first! Fight for Power starts off exactly where Rule of Three ends. This book was even more exciting than the first book, picking up just after Adam's community has thwarted an attempt on their safety. But what that battle taught the people of Eden Mills is that life really has changed. It is now not just about growing enough food, or finding fresh drinking water, but about protecting the community from outside forces who want what Adam and his neighbours have worked so hard to create. This need to keep the community safe means that ordinary citizens must now be trained to use force when necessary, but not everyone agrees about the best way to keep the community safe. Adam really struggles with what all of this means, he isn't sure if he is cut out for violence, but recognizes the need for it. Everyone living within the walls of Eden Mills must learn how to adjust to this new way of life and to make decisions they never thought they would have to make. I LOVED this book! I couldn't put it down and I can't wait for the next one to come out. I know that tomorrow I am going to have to have a draw to see who gets to read this first in my classroom.

Little White Lies by Katie Dale

I picked this one up with a Christmas gift card last week. I am trying to extend my interests past dystopian novels. This one is not dystopian that is for sure. This story is about Louise and Christian. Both of them seem to be hiding something from the people in their lives, yet they are both drawn to each other. When a series of accidents happen to Christian, Louise isn't sure what to do or to think. Does she trust him or not. Her heart tells her one thing and her head tells her something else. Lou and Christian need to figure out how to trust each other, even when the world seems to be against them. I enjoyed this story. There were lots of plot twists and changes in direction. I was never really sure how the story was going to end. This story is set in London England, so the book has that feel to it. The characters are also in their first year of University, but there is nothing that would stop me from recommending this book to someone in grade 7 or 8. I think this is a great book for girls, there is romance, adventure and a great plot.

The Bodies We Wear by Jeyn Roberts

Jeyn Roberts is a new author to me, and I need to read her other books as well. Her website is here. For Christmas, my youngest son gave me a Chapters gift card, so last week I spent some time there picking up some new books- even better they were on sale too. This is one that caught my eye. The Bodies We Wear is the story of a time when a drug called Heam is very popular, but very dangerous. One hit of Heam has the user hooked for life, and their life becomes all about trying to find the next hit. People who use Heam are scared for life, they carry these scars on their body and are shunned by the rest of society. When Faye was just 11, drug pushers forced her and her best friend to use Heam and when Faye became addicted, her best friend died. Now, six years later, Faye has one goal- to destroy the four men who did this to her. But Faye soon realizes that taking her revenge will be harder than she thinks, and may cost her more than she is willing to give. She mets a new friend Chael, who is familiar, but she can't quite place him. As she gets to know Chael she is forced to face her past as well as her future. I really enjoyed reading this book- it is the first book in a while that has had me reading far into the night and in the early morning. Faye is a great character- she makes you want to root for her, even when you know she is trying to seek revenge. The story is one that will draw lots of girls into the world Faye lives in, and the relationship between her and Chael is one that will keep them reading. I can't wait to share this one with my students tomorrow.

Contaminated by Em Gardner

I'm not sure how it is possible that I haven't read a YA book since October, but apparently I haven't. Contaminated is one I ordered through Scholastics a while ago and it sat on my desk for a few months. One of my students was looking for a new book to read so I gave it to her. She read it in a day and told me how good it was. Contaminated is the story of what happened after a epidemic of people having a bad reaction to a diet drink. People who drank this became very dangerous and unstable. Velvet was 16 when the Contamination hit- and suddenly she was living without her parents and trying to help her sister survive. When she discovers her mother is still alive, Velvet takes measures to protect her family in any way she can. This story was fast-paced and exciting. I liked how strong Velvet was and how she stopped at nothing to protect her family. There is a sequel to the book called Mercy Mode that I will need to pick up shortly. I can see lots of kids enjoying this story. Em Gardner's website can be found here.

Double You by Shane Peacock

I ordered the sequels to the Seven Series at the first of the month and I have been trying to work my way through them. The only problem is I have to share the books with my class. This one, many of the kids said I had to read because something very shocking happens on page 41. I was dying to find out what, especially after going last week and hearing all of the authors speak in Port Hope. I still have a student reading my copy, but I borrowed this one from another student in my class. Double You is the story of Adam who is terribly upset that his grandfather might not be the wonderful man everyone thought he was. Adam learned a great deal from the adventure his grandfather sent him on in the first book. Now, he is trying to constantly be 'good' Adam, even when 'bad' Adam wants to keep appearing. Adam is trying to prove his grandfather was not a traitor, even when all evidence leads to the fact that he might be. Adam travels from Bermuda to New York City to Jamaica in search of the truth about his grandfather. Along the way he meets an intriguing girl named Angel Dahl and needs to escape from some very dangerous men. I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the adventures that Adam faced and I like what a good guy he really is. I felt that when I finished this book that there is more to Adam's story and I am really hoping there will be a third book written by Peacock. I also talked to several of the boys in my class today who are reading or who have read this book and they are loving it!

The Rule of Three by Eric Walters

I have two favourites when it comes to reading- I love reading any new dystopian or alternative reality books and I love reading anything by Eric Walters. When I saw this new book by Walters I was very surprised- my favourite author and my favourite genre! The Rule of Three isn't a typical Walters book, he tends to write more realistic fiction but boy did he hit it out of the park with this one. The Rule of Three is the story of a world where one afternoon, everything that runs on computers stops working. That includes electricity, cars and of course computers. Luckily for Adam, he drives an older model car so he is actually able to get home from school. What he thinks is going to be a short term inconvenience, turns out to be a global disaster. As days without computers turns to weeks, Adam, his family and his community must find a way to survive. Along the way, Adam has help from his mysterious next door neighbour who seems to have experienced all of this before. Adam, his neighbour Herb and his mother who is a police officer are suddenly thrown into positions of having to make decisions, not just for their own survival but for their whole community. This novel is fast paced and exciting. It had me question the amount of food I have in my house, to how I could survive something like this. I loved Adam- he had to adapt and change to a very strange situation and he did it so well. As with all Walters books, the characters are believable and likeable. It also reminds me a bit of Suzanne Weyn's novel Empty. I can't wait to share this book with students on Monday. If I can get them out of the Seven Series, they will love this one as well! I am hoping there will be a sequel to this, I feel like Adam's story is not quite over yet!

Coda by Ted Staunton

Coda is another book in the sequels to the Seven Series. After David McLean's grandsons discover a mysterious package at his cottage, most of the grandsons head out to discover whether their grandfather was a spy or not. But not Spencer, all he wants to do on Christmas vacation is keep his brother Bunny safe and hang out with the girl he likes - AmberLea who is visiting from Buffalo. But of course life is not that easy! When Spencer and Bunny go skating, things start to unravel very quickly. Bunny goes missing and now Spencer is trying to keep him from being thrown back in jail. All Spencer wants his his brother back, but he is thrown into the world of spies, kidnapping and terrorist plots. I enjoyed reading Spencer's story a great deal. There was always some crazy adventure and of course Spencer isn't really the hero type of guy. He bumbles around a bit in his curling sweater and admits to being afraid a great deal of the time. The other thing I really enjoyed about this story was all of the familiar places he went to. It is very interesting to be able to read about a place you have been, it makes visualizing the story much easier! A lot of the boys in my class have been really enjoying Coda- and I can see the appeal. Staunton has written an action novel that has a twist at every turn. I'm really looking forward to hearing all of the author's in Port Hope tonight!