After Obsession

Well, it’s been a crazy week.  (Thankfully, not as crazy as last week.)  I’m finally starting to get back to normal after last week’s home invasion.  I’m hoping my reading will pick up as soon as things are kind of on an even keel.  Right now, though, I’m lucky to finish one book per week.  (This makes me very sad.)

This week, I finished After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel.  I had high hopes for this book because I enjoyed Carrie Jones’ Need series.  (I still have to read the fourth book, Endure.)  Unfortunately, After Obsession didn’t really live up to my expectations.  I felt that the plot was too rushed, the ending was a bit too neat, and I didn’t quite buy the love-at-first-sight thing between the two main characters.  Also, there was a lot of woo-woo supernatural stuff in this book but very little explanation behind it.  I’m a reader who needs to know why things happen, and this book didn’t deliver on that count.  Maybe I’m being too critical.  Maybe not.  But it’s my blog, and I can do what I want.  So there.

When Aimee and Alan meet, it’s like they’ve known each other forever. There’s an instant connection, and they know they’ve seen each other in their dreams…dreams that paint a disturbing picture of the future in their small town in Maine.  Something dark and evil has taken hold in town–something that has taken lives before–and it’s up to Aimee and Alan to drive this darkness–known only as the River Man–away.

But are two teenagers strong enough to fight an evil they can’t understand?  And what will happen when the River Man makes someone dear to both of them his vessel?  Is there any hope of saving someone after an evil spirit becomes obsessed with them…and before he takes full possession?  What mayhem could result if they fail?  What will they have to sacrifice to succeed?  Read After Obsession to find out.

I realize I haven’t told you a whole lot about After Obsession, but the more I think about it, the more I dislike this book.  (That is hard for me to admit.  I don’t like being negative about books.)  It just felt too choppy, and too many things were left unexplained.  I’m all for using my imagination, but even my overactive imagination couldn’t fill in the many holes left in this story.  I liked how Native American spirituality played a part in the book, but even that wasn’t given the attention it deserved.  With most books, I can see a movie in my mind as the action unfolds.  This book was just words on a page, and I wasn’t engaged at all.  Very disappointing.

If you don’t want to take my word for it, you can find more information on After Obsession on Carrie Jones’ website (http://www.carriejonesbooks.com/), or you can check out the book trailer below.  As far as I know, this is a stand-alone book.  If there were any sequels, I doubt I would read them.  Do with that what you will.

Hallowed

Spoiler alert!  If you haven’t already read Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, this post will be all kinds of confusing.  Seriously.  Read Unearthly before proceeding!

Nearly a year and a half ago, I read a truly outstanding novel that revolved around angels.  That book was–if you haven’t already figured it out–Unearthly by Cynthia Hand.  Now that summer is upon us and I have ample time to indulge my deep and abiding love for YA novels, I finally read the sequel, Hallowed.  This book continues Clara Gardner’s search for her true purpose, but she’s in for some surprises that rock the very foundation of her world.  While Hallowed, in my opinion, isn’t quite as action-packed as Unearthly was, it is definitely emotionally loaded.  I got angry and sad right along with Clara, and, to be perfectly honest, I’m a little wrung out at the moment.  (I finished the book about twenty minutes ago.)  If you’re looking for an emotional roller coaster of a book, Hallowed might be just what you’re looking for.

After the fire that changed Clara’s life–and what she believed was her purpose–forever, she finds herself wondering what’s next. Will she be punished for choosing to save Tucker, the boy she’s chosen to love, instead of Christian, another angel-blood who may or may not be meant for her? How has her choice changed the course her life is destined to take? And who will be impacted by whatever happens?

In addition to wondering about her changing purpose as an angel-blood, Clara is being presented with disturbing visions of the future. These visions convince her that someone she loves will soon die. But who could it be? She searches her visions for clues, and, just when she’s convinced that she knows what to expect, Clara is presented with some knowledge that not only clarifies her vision but shakes her world to the core.

As Clara prepares herself for the loss that is to come, she must also deal with a growing threat from Samjeeza, a dreaded Black Wing (or fallen angel), who has a strange interest in her and her family. What does he want? And is there anything Clara can do to stop him?

Clara’s world is quickly spinning out of control. Her brother, Jeffrey, is growing colder and more distant. Her relationship with Tucker is strained, and her feelings for Christian are more complicated than ever. She must also decide the direction her life will take after graduation. All of these things are swirling in Clara’s mind, but they must soon take a back seat to something that will alter everything Clara ever knew about herself, her family, and her angelic nature.

Life is about to change yet again for Clara Gardner. She’ll go through loss, grief, sadness, heartbreak, resignation, and even joy, but will she be strong enough to handle everything being thrown at her? And will she be able to figure out her true purpose while remaining true to herself?

The Unearthly series–Unearthly and Hallowed, so far–is perfect for readers who are fascinated with angels.  Like other “angelic” series, such as Lauren Kate’s Fallen saga, Courtney Allison Moulton’s Angelfire series, and Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush series, Unearthly and Hallowed reel the reader in with scenarios of how angels could exist on the earthly and heavenly planes.  If you’re like me and were brought up in church with stories of angels watching over you, these stories are especially compelling.

Hallowed is a great read for anyone in middle school on up.  The love scenes are rather mild, so I wouldn’t have any problems putting this book in the hands of a middle school student.  And there’s enough emotional angst to satisfy even the moodiest of readers.  (I’m talking to you, teenagers.  Yeah, I used to be one of you, so I know you can be a little more emo than you’d like to admit.)

If you’d like more information about the Unearthly series or author Cynthia Hand, visit http://cynthiahandbooks.com/ or follow the author on Twitter @CynthiaHand.  The third book in this series, Boundless, is due to be released on January 22, 2013.

If I still haven’t convinced you to give Hallowed a try, check out this book trailer.  That might do the trick!

The Future of Us

What were you doing in 1996?  I was a junior in high school.  I had a few close friends, I was active in band, I was a nerd that got picked on a lot, and I was looking forward to getting out of my small town.  Oh, how things have (not) changed in fifteen years.  I finished reading a book yesterday that really made me revisit that time in my life and wonder if I would change anything.  If I could have seen who I would become, would I make changes that would impact my future?  (Yes, I probably would have.)  The book I’m talking about is The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.  Told from two different viewpoints, this story takes us back to 1996.  Emma, a junior in high school (!!!!), just got her very first computer, and her neighbor–and former best friend–Josh brings over a free AOL CD-ROM.  They log on to the Internet for the first time, and they are met with something truly shocking…

When Emma gets her computer and Josh brings over the America Online CD-ROM, she’s excited about finally being able to email and instant message her friends. What neither of them are prepared for, however, is the website that appears on the screen. It’s Facebook…which will not be launched until 2004. Emma and Josh are viewing their Facebook pages from the year 2012, including their jobs, spouses, etc. What is this site? And why do so many people feel the need to tell everyone about the most mundane aspects of their lives?

At first, Emma and Josh think the site is a joke. After all, it’s impossible to see fifteen years into the future, right? Right??  It soon becomes crystal clear, though, that the site is real.  Emma and Josh are glimpsing into their futures…and all is not as they thought it would be.

Emma is distraught over the information on her Facebook page.  In the future, she’s apparently in a horrible marriage, unemployed, and very unhappy.  Josh, however, is pretty stoked about his future.  He’s married to the most popular girl in school, lives in a big house, has a great job, and is a father.  But here’s the problem with knowing your future…anything you do in the present ripples and has the potential to change the future.  And Emma and Josh figure this out each time they refresh their Facebook pages.  Sometimes things are just a little different, but sometimes the changes are huge, like living in a different city, marriage to a different person, or different kids. 

Emma is so unhappy with her future life that she becomes determined to change what’s in store for her.  But how will that impact Josh’s future or even their friendship in the present?  What will Josh do to hold onto the future he sees for himself?  And when Emma and Josh find out disturbing things about their friends in the future, will they reveal what’s to come, or will they let events unfold without interference?

Emma and Josh are not always sure what they’re doing with this whole Facebook thing.  Each time something happens to change the future, though, it’s driving them further and further apart.  Can they get back to a present–and a future–where they are friends?  Or is their friendship a thing of the past?  Read The Future of Us, an intriguing story by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, to discover how the little things can change a person’s destiny.

I don’t know if it’s come across here, but I adored this book.  It was a quick, easy read, but it also made me think.  It probably didn’t hurt that I related so much to the character of Emma.  After I finished the book last night, I really contemplated what my teenage self would have done if she had seen my current Facebook page.  For one thing, she would have wondered why so many of my posts deal with books.  (I read a lot in high school but not nearly as much as I do now.)  She would have been confused about why she became a librarian instead of a high school band director.  I really think Teen Kelly would have tried to lose some weight so that it wouldn’t become the issue it is today…at least, I hope so.  Even though I don’t think I’ve changed all that much since high school, I’m sure my 17-year-old self would disagree, and I’m honestly not sure how my life would be different if I’d had the opportunity to tweak my future a bit.  Would it be better?  Who knows.  But it’s fun to think about.

If you are interested in learning more about The Future of Us or authors Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, you can visit one or more of these sites:

• http://www.jayasher.blogspot.com
• http://www.carolynmackler.com
• http://www.twitter.com/jayasherguy
• http://www.twitter.com/carolynmackler

You can also, of course, find them on Facebook:

• http://www.facebook.com/jayasherwriter
• http://www.facebook.com/carolynmackler
• http://www.facebook.com/thefutureofus

Getting It

My latest read, Getting It by Alex Sanchez, has been on my bookshelf for a while.  This week, I finally decided to give this book a go.  It was a quick, light read, but it had a very positive message—a message that teens as well as adults could stand to receive.  Getting It revolves around the life of Carlos, a fifteen-year-old guy who comes to understand that getting something isn’t nearly as important as giving.

Carlos wants a girlfriend.  Bad.  His buddies all brag about their latest hookups, but Carlos is a virgin, and he doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.  He’s obsessed with gorgeous Roxy, but he knows he has no shot at her.  He’s a slob with bad skin and no confidence.  Is there any way to change his image and get the girl of his dreams?  There just may be…

Carlos decides to seek the help of the only openly gay guy in school, Sal (because everyone knows that guy guys know about being clean, neat, and fashionable).  Sal agrees to help Carlos in exchange for a little cash and his assistance in starting a Gay-Straight Alliance at their school.  Even though Carlos worries that everyone will think he’s gay, he agrees to Sal’s terms.

As Sal works his magic, and Carlos begins to notice changes on the outside, it seems the inside might be changing as well.  Yes, he’s still obsessed with Roxy, but he’s also coming face to face with homophobia among his friends and classmates.  His time with Sal has made him realize the power of words, and how gay slurs, even when directed at straight people, are not okay.  But Carlos is still uneasy about his friendship with Sal and forming a GSA at school.  Can he overcome his own issues and step up for the friend who has helped him so much, or will he always be worried about what other people think?  Will Carlos ever get the girl, and, if he gets her, will it really make him happy?  Join Carlos on his journey of self-discovery when you read Getting It by Alex Sanchez.

Even though some of the pop culture references in this book are a little dated—particularly the nods to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy—and some stereotyping of gay men, the book’s message is really timely.  If you keep up with current events at all, you know that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people are fighting alongside their straight allies for equal rights.  There have been great strides recently, but there is still work to be done.  Getting It brings that fight to a high school setting.  Even teenagers, gay and straight alike, can do their part to battle against homophobia (and they might just teach us adults a few things along the way).

If you’d like more information about Getting It or author Alex Sanchez, visit http://www.alexsanchez.com/default.asp.

Fins Are Forever

Spoiler alert!  If you haven’t read Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs, proceed with caution. 

I’ve been oddly fascinated by mermaids since I saw The Little Mermaid years ago.  I’ve always loved the water (even though I’m terrified of sharks and jellyfish), and I’m certain that humans will never know all there is to know about the ocean.  Could there be mermaids or other mysterious creatures below the surface?  I don’t know, but it’s definitely fun to read about, and Tera Lynn Childs’ mermaid books definitely fall into the “fun” cagegory.  When I read Forgive My Fins, I likened it to a combination of The Little Mermaid and The Princess Diaries.  Those comparisons continue in the sequel, Fins Are Forever.

Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs picks up where Forgive My Fins left off.  Lily has made her decision to renounce the throne of Thalassinia to spend her life on land with Quince, the love of her life.  She will formally renounce her royal title after her eighteenth birthday, which is just a few weeks away.  But a lot can happen in a few weeks…

Now that Lily will be staying on land for the forseeable future, she has to deal with life after high school.  Unfortunately, she hasn’t really been focused on grades and preparing for college until now.  Her GPA is less than stellar, and the dreaded SATs are looming.  How can Lily possibly become a marine biologist–and help the kingdom of Thalassinia from land–if she can’t even get into college?

To add to Lily’s stress-filled life, her cousin Dosinia has arrived to further complicate matters.  It seems that Doe has been exiled, and it is up to Lily to educate the pest on how to appreciate humans and live among them.  It’s not an easy task.  Doe is a brat who is used to getting her way, and living on land is not going to change that.  And when Doe bonds with Lily’s former crush, Brody, things go from bad to worse.  Now, Lily has to clean up Doe’s mess when her own life is messy enough.

Lily is about to lose it.  The pressure is really getting to her, and the sudden appearance of a childhood friend, Tellin, is about to complicate her life even more.  He plants an idea in her head that has her questioning the decisions she’s made, especially her decision to give up the throne.  Lily is torn between her love for Quince and her duty to her home.  Is there any way she can have both, or will she be torn between two worlds forever?  Read Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs to find out!

Even though I thought Fins Are Forever was a little more serious than Forgive My Fins, I liked it just as much.  It was a light, quick read that was full of humor.  Both of these books are perfect for some fun summer reading.  Just imagine reading these books at the beach, looking out over the ocean, and thinking “what if…”

I’m not sure if there will be more books in this series, but I hope there will be.  I’m anxious to see where Lily’s story goes from here.  For now, though, you can visit the author’s website at http://www.teralynnchilds.com/ for more information on the Fins series and other awesome books.  Enjoy!

Vesper

I really identified with the main character in my latest read, Vesper by Jeff Sampson.  Emily Webb is a sixteen-year-old geek who gets way too engrossed in books and movies, doesn’t have many friends, stays at home most of the time, and never tries anything new for fear of rocking the boat or looking like an idiot.  I feel like I’ve just written a short autobiography.  I’m just like Emily (except, you know, twice her age), and, like Emily, I often have the urge to jump out of my shell and go a little crazy.  (I never do.)  Well, Emily is about to do what I’ve never had the guts to do.  She’s becoming an adventurous party girl, but she’s not all that thrilled about it…

By day, Emily Webb is still the same geeky, unassuming, often forgotten, run-of-the mill teenager who is simply counting down the days until the next superhero movie.  (Wow.  The similarities never stop.)  By night, however, Emily morphs into a fearless, reckless thrill seeker who lets nothing stand in her way.  What caused this sudden change?  Why does Emily let go of her inhibitions only at night?  And why does this weird transformation begin on the night that a girl is mysteriously killed just blocks from Emily’s house?

Emily knows she should be worried about her sudden personality shifts, but, at the same time, she kind of likes Nighttime Emily.  She likes not worrying about what people think of her.  She likes dressing to impress instead of hiding her figure behind oversized hoodies.  She likes being the daring girl she’s always wanted to be.  But when her transformation takes an unexpected turn, Emily realizes that something is seriously wrong with her.  She doesn’t know why this is happening to her, but she knows that there are others out there like her.  She just has to find them.

After doing a little research, Emily soon figures out that her freaky new self is somehow connected to the death of the other girl, also named Emily, and the attempted murder of another classmate.  What is happening with the teenagers in her small Washington town?  Will Emily be able to reconcile her daytime and nighttime selves long enough to figure out what’s going on?  And can she do it before becoming a killer’s next target?  Read Vesper by Jeff Sampson to find out!

I’ve left a lot about Vesper out of this post, and that was completely intentional.  I don’t want to ruin this book for anyone because, quite honestly, it went places I wasn’t completely prepared for.  At first, I wasn’t thrilled about these unexpected turns, but, as the story progressed, I accepted them and grew to anticipate where the story was taking me.  I look forward to reading more of Emily’s story in the second book of this Deviants series.  That book is Havoc and is scheduled for release January of 2012.  In the meantime, I encourage you to visit the author’s website at http://jeffsampsonbooks.com/ for more information on this exciting new series!

Geek Magnet

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I am a geek.  Always have been, always will be.  I embrace my geekhood and everything that comes with it.  Others, however, do not appreciate how awesome it is to be a nerd, geek, dork, or various other names I’ve been called over the years.  The main character in Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott is also unappreciative of the geeks around her.  In fact, she’d like nothing more than being completely left alone by all of the nerdy guys who seem to gravitate toward her.  Well, she may just get her wish…

KJ is the stage manager of her school’s upcoming production of the musical Grease.  That’s a big job, but it’s not the only thing she’s dealing with.  She’s got a major crush on the most popular guy in school, Cameron.  She’s afraid to go home every day because she doesn’t want to face life with her alcoholic father.  And she’s the object of adoration of every geeky guy in the school.  Something’s got to give before KJ completely loses it.

When popular girl Tama Gold makes KJ her special project, it seems that things might finally change for the better.  KJ begins to tell people what she really thinks.  Granted, she’s being a complete witch most of the time, but how else is she supposed to get her point across?  The geeks are finally giving her some space, and Cameron is taking notice.  Sure, KJ is losing a couple of friends, but that’s a small price to pay for popularity, right?  KJ even tells her dad how she feels about his drinking.  All the anger she’s been bottling up begins to pour out, and KJ has never felt lighter.

But does KJ (or anyone else) like the person she’s becoming?  What happened to the nice girl who loved her friends and respected those around her?  Is there any way for KJ to mix her new, confident self with the sweet girl she used to be?  And what will happen when KJ’s life at home takes a total nosedive?  Where will her popular friends be?  What if her true friends were really the geeks she pushed away?  Who will really be there when things get rough?

Join KJ on her journey of self-discovery when you read Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott.  And remember–”The geek shall inherit the earth.”

I have to say that Geek Magnet had more serious moments than I initially expected.  Those moments helped to create depth in the character of KJ, who was a bit shallow at times.  The book was a little on the predictable side, but that’s okay.  It’s a light, fun read that will really appeal to all of the Gleeks out there.  The ending was satisfying and showed that KJ learned something throughout the course of the book.  Not all of her issues were resolved, but she learned to embrace her true self and the people who she could really count on.

For more information about author Kieran Scott and her books, visit  http://www.kieranscott.net/author.html.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to get around to reading this book.  It’s been out for nearly eight years now, but I kept putting it off.  I think it’s because I knew this would be a somewhat uncomfortable read.  Don’t let the title fool you.  I know a title like The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things might lead one to believe that this is a lighthearted book about being a chubby girl, and, while some parts of the book are lighthearted, this book deals with some pretty heavy (pun intended) issues.  Yes, weight and body image play into that, but this book also shines a light on things like self-perception, disappointment in those closest to you, and breaking out of one’s shell.  It was a very enlightenting and, yes, uncomfortable read for me as I’m still dealing with many of the issues addressed in this book (and I’m well out of my teen years), but I think this book is an important one, especially for teen girls who struggle with body image and those who really have no clue what that’s like.

Virginia Shreves does not fit in with her perfect family.  They’re all thin, athletic, and, well, perfect.  Virginia, meanwhile, struggles with her weight on a daily basis.  Her mother is an adolescent psychologist who won’t communicate with her own family and seems to be trying to mold Virginia into her image of the perfect daughter.  Her father and brother are not much better.  (Her sister is in the Peace Corps, so at least she’s safe on that front.)  Virginia also deals with comments about her weight at school.  It’s not easy being the fat girl, especially when Virginia’s best (and only) friend has just moved to Washington.

Virginia tries to diet and even agrees to see a nutritionist, but she always goes back to the comfort of food.  She knows she needs to treat herself better, but if the people around her don’t seem to care about her, why should she care about herself?

When something happens in her family that shakes Virginia to her very core, she begins to reexamine her life, the choices she’s making, how she views herself, and how other people see her.  Virginia is breaking out of her shell, and the people around her, particularly her family, are in for a shock.  The new, improved Virginia is here to stay, and she’s not taking crap from anybody anymore.  How will her parents react to the new Virginia?  Will Virginia finally find the acceptance she’s always longed for?  Will she and others see her as more than just a fat girl?  Read The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler to find out!

I must say that this book was a very inspiring read for me.  I now have the urge to take up kickboxing, dye my hair purple, and get my eyebrow pierced.  (Well, maybe not that last one.)  Who knows?  I might just break out of my shell, too.  Stranger things have happened.

For more information on this book and others by Carolyn Mackler, visit http://carolynmackler.com/Carolyn-Mackler-Home-Page.asp.

Desires of the Dead

Caution:  Spoilers ahead!  If you haven’t read The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, proceed at your own risk.  Desires of the Dead picks up right where The Body Finder left off, and I don’t want to ruin things for you.  You’ve been warned!

If you’re still reading after the spoiler alert above, you’ve probably figured out that Desires of the Dead is the sequel to Kimberly Derting’s The Body Finder.  (At least, I hope you’ve figured that out.)  In this second installment, we continue to follow Violet as she deals with her mysterious “gift.”  To refresh your memory, she is led to bodies of those who have been murdered.  An echo is attached to each body–a sound, a smell, a taste–and Violet follows that echo until she locates the body.  An imprint of each echo is also attached to the killer, a fact Violet knows all too well after her abilities helped to identify and capture a serial killer.

In Desires of the Dead, Violet is still dealing with the aftereffects of coming face to face with the serial killer that was plaguing her town.  She knows her “gift” led her to him–and put people she loves in danger–so she’s hesitant to share her secrets with anyone, including those closest to her.  She’s also dealing with her changing relationship with Jay, her best-friend-turned-boyfriend.  They truly love each other, but Violet is still unsure about trusting Jay with everything that is happening in her life.

And there is a lot happening.  After locating the body of a missing boy, certain people begin to question just know Violet knew to find the body in an airtight, windowless, dark storage container.  These people, somehow connected with the FBI, know that Violet has some special abilities, and they want her to use them.  Violet is not convinced that she won’t become some creepy lab experiment, but she also wonders if she could really use her gift to help people.

On top of that, it seems that Violet has really ticked someone off.  After finding a dead cat next to her car, receiving a threatening poem, and enduring many calls from an unknown source, Violet knows that someone is stalking her, but she’s not sure why.  She thinks she knows who is threatening her, but, after Jay refuses to believe her suspicions, she begins to question herself, her abilities, her relationship, and her own mind.

Violet eventually begins to find some measure of peace, but it is soon shattered by her “gift” once again.  A body is calling to Violet, but whose is it?  And what is its connection to the threats being made against Violet?  Who can she turn to for help?  Will anyone even believe her?  Find out when you read Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting.

I really enjoyed this book, but I must admit that I liked The Body Finder more.  I think Desires of the Dead is a fairly typical second book in a series.  We kind of get to know the main characters more, there are some new players introduced, and some plot points drive the story along.  I look forward to seeing what happens in the third book in this series.  According to Goodreads, there will be at least two more books in this series.  I hope these books will be as good as or better than the first two installments.

For more information on The Body Finder series and other books by Kimberly Derting, visit http://www.kimberlyderting.com/.  Enjoy!

Trapped

My latest read, Trapped by Michael Northrop, made me even happier than I already am that I live in the South.  We don’t get much snow here, and anything over a few inches basically shuts my entire state down.  This past January, we had about a foot of snow, and schools were out for an entire week.  So, we don’t handle the white stuff all that well.  I don’t know what we’d do if we had a severe snowstorm like the one depicted in Trapped, and I honestly hope I never find out.

Scotty Weems is a sophomore at Tattawa High School.  He has two really close friends, and he’s on the varsity basketball team.  He doesn’t think about much else.  On the day the snow begins to come down, Scotty’s main concern is the basketball game being cancelled.  He doesn’t realize that he’ll soon have bigger worries.  Because the snow doesn’t stop, and Scotty, six other students, and one teacher are stranded at school.  No one comes to pick them up.  Surely this storm will blow over soon, and help will come, right?  Wrong.

As the snow begins to pile up, and the lone teacher tries to go for help, it becomes clear that these students are on their own.  Days go by.  The snow keeps falling.  There is no heat, and the pipes freeze.  The snow keeps falling.  Tempers flare, hope begins to wane, and the roof begins to collapse.  And the snow keeps falling.  How can a group of seven kids hope to survive this monster storm when it’s becoming more and more apparent that no help is in sight?  Does anyone even know they’re there?  Join Scotty and friends in their fight to survive when you read Trapped by Michael Northrop.

Trapped is a book that I think guys and girls will find interesting, and it could spark some “What would you do?” conversations.  I imagine many teenagers might think spending a week in a high school without adult supervision would be cool.  In this book, though, the kids were just trying to survive.  Sure, they raided the cafeteria and broke into a few rooms, but it wasn’t to see what they could get into.  It was to find what they needed to make it out of this storm alive…and readers soon realize that not all of them will.  Trapped is a gripping story that will definitely make readers think about just what they would do to survive.

For more information about author Michael Northrop and Trapped, visit http://michaelnorthrop.net/.