Moriarty, Chris. The Watcher in the Shadows. (2013). Harcourt Children's Books.

 

 

Let me start by saying I am an adult who greatly enjoys reading young adult novels.  I also quite frequently seem to get interested in a story that just happens to be the second one in a series, which is what happened with this book.  I was quite disappointed with this story.  I didn't read the first novel in the trilogy, The Inquisitor's Apprentice, so I felt lost.  There wasn't any reflection on the previous cast of characters, or any mention of the previous plot. The first book was released in 2011; therefore, I believe it would have been helpful to have some type of prologue, or details within the storyline, that refer back to the original adventure.  I like this type of genre (magic and intrigue), but the story didn't grab my attention quickly enough.  I eventually understood some of the tale, and I enjoyed the characters.  My advice to anyone reading this series is to read it in order; it may well be worth it.

 

 

Esther Catino, Youth Services,

Lake County Library System, Cooper Memorial Library 

Porter, Sarah. The Twice Lost. (2013). New York : HMH Books for Young Readers.

The Twice Lost is the thrilling conclusion to Sarah Porter's Lost Voices Trilogy. We continue the story with Luce, formerly Lucette Korchak, rushing to warn the other Mermaid Tribes along the Pacific Coast that the humans know their secret and are out for blood. 

 

She knows that peace can exist between humans and mermaids; she just has to convince everyone else.  Meanwhile, Luce's father, Andrew, and her lost love, Dorian, struggle with knowledge of the mermaids' hate for humans, the government's desire to destroy the girls, Luce's obvious humanity, and their place in it all.  Porter's ability to create a mythology, build a scene, and (most importantly), keep pace, allows her to build a complete world for readers without sacrificing plot.  Readers will enjoy Porter's unique take on common lore. Her realistic depiction of the human response to threatening situations makes for great teachable moments.  The topics and depictions presented here make the novel more appropriate for mature young adult readers.

 

Amanda Street,  

Wilderness Coast Public Libraries 

Deuker, Carl. Swagger. (2013). New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Jonas never thought he had a chance to go to college after high school, until his coach gave him the incentive to try for a basketball scholarship. However, life situations with his parents got in the way, and Jonas found himself moving  to a new high school in a different town. There he meets Levi, a quiet preacher's son, who is picked on by the local kids in the school. As the boys practice basketball at the local park court during summer vacation, a man shows up acting as a mentor to several of the basketball players. He holds "parties" serving beer and porn movies, which Jonas and Levi try to avoid.  Surprisingly, the mentor shows up again as the newly hired assistant coach.  He begs the boys not to speak of his "parties," which would get him into trouble.  When the old coach collapses on the court and the assistant coach takes over, Levi begins to change, and Jonas suspects something has happened. The book, filled with basketball techniques and play, is actually well plotted so that the reader remains interested without a great knowledge of the game.The characters are well developed, and the lingering suspense keeps the reader actively engaged in the storyline. The ending seems quick to finish, but remains a satisfying read.

Lyn Ehley,

Citrus County Library System, Lakes Region Library

Lerangis, Peter. Lost in Babylon (Seven Wonders book 2). (2013). New York. HarperCollins.

Jack McKinley and his friends all have a gene that will end their lives at age 14. In this book, they continue their mission to save not only their lives, but the entire world. They must locate seven magic orbs called Loculi, which are hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the first book, the group of friends defeated the Colossus of Rhodes and captured the first of the Loculi. Unfortunately, their friend Marco has disappeared. With no leads, no clues, and no one else to turn to, they have no choice but to trust Professor Bhegad and the Karai Institute and head off to Babylon. They face internal betrayal, and even doubts about the very organization that is keeping them alive. The story is enriched with time travel, ancient Babylonian history, and monsters with deadly spit. As with all great series, much is left unanswered, and a revelation at the end will leave you anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Although this second book in the Seven Wonders series can be read on its own, it is better to start at the beginning. While I did not read the first book in the series to have a basis for the storyline, I found the story easy to follow and intriguing. A great read that anyone could enjoy.

April Frazier,
Citrus County Library System, Lakes Region Library