September Selection

Great choice, everyone! This book was so good that it gave me chills. If you haven’t read it yet, there’s still time before the discussion begins. You’ll be glad you did! Here’s a summary from the inside cover:

“A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.”

This thrilling, suspenseful novel was one that I couldn’t put down until the end (and I did so slowly, with a look of total shock on my face). Then, I read it again.  Here are some reactions:

John Green says: “Thrilling, beautiful, and blisteringly smart, We Were Liars is utterly unforgettable.”

Kirkus calls We Were Liars “Riveting, brutal and beautifully told.”

Shelf Awareness gives it a starred review: “This is a love story as much as it is a psychological mystery…Astonishing.”

Sonia Charaipotra (Parade): “A rich, stunning summer mystery with a sharp twist that will leave you dying to talk about the book with a pal or ten.”

I can’t wait to hear what you thought about this book. On September 1, we’ll start the discussion!

 

June Selection

The votes are in, and the June Online Teen Book Club selection is Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano. This is the first book in a brand new series by the author of The Chemical Garden trilogy, and it’s set in an entirely original world. Here is the summary provided by the publisher:

“Morgan Stockhour knows getting too close to the edge of Internment, the floating city in the clouds where she lives, can lead to madness. Even though her older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. If she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in her best friend, Pen, and in Basil, the boy she’s engaged to marry.

“Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially once she meets Judas. Betrothed to the victim, he is the boy being blamed for the murder, but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find—or whom she will lose. ”

This book has garnered a high rating on Goodreads. Click here to see some of the reviews.

And here is what some critics have to say about the book:

Booklist: “DeStefano has created a perfect storm–intertwining plot, characters, and setting beautifully. From the first page, readers will be enticed by Morgan’s voice, precise in its descriptions yet filled with curiosity…. This is a page-turner, and waiting for the next book will be hard, hard, hard.”

School Library Journal: “A concoction of tension and love with a cliff-hanger ending”

Read the book  and see for yourself! Discussion starts on June 1.

June Selection

It’s settled; the June selection is The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.  Here’s the summary from the publisher:

“Mara Dyer believes life can’t get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed.
There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong.”

This mysterious and atmospheric novel has been getting praise from lots of different places. Check out some of the responses from authors and critics:

Cassandra Clare said: “The intrigue and romance will inescapably draw you in.”

Veronica Roth wrote: “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer strikes a rare balance of darkly funny, deliciously creepy, and genuinely thoughtful. One minute I was laughing out loud, and the next, I was so scared I wanted to turn on all the lights and hide under the covers. Michelle Hodkin’s talent and range are obvious, from her chilling descriptions to romantic scenes that almost crackled on the page. I’ve never read anything quite like it.”

Kirkus Reviews calls it “a strong, inventive tale,” and School Library Journal wrote “Anyone who thinks old-fashioned romantic scenes can’t move teens today will be proven wrong here. This boy will make readers swoon. The characters are real and wonderful, and the supernatural story is riveting. Expect this book to fly off the shelves.”

Our discussion will start on June 1, and I look forward to reading what you guys think of the book!

May Selection

A very popular dystopian title won for the month of May. We will be discussing The Maze Runner! Share your thoughts and take our polls once discussion is posted tomorrow.

The Maze Runner
by: James Dashner

Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape.

This should be a fun one! This bestselling book has been a favourite in the library for a while now. If you haven’t already discovered it, it’s time to give this book a try!