Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Madeline is literally allergic to the world. She's confined to her hyper-sterile house with her loving mother and her nurse Carla. She works very hard not to want more, not to press her head against the window and dream of being outside, of meeting other people. This all falls apart when a new family move in next door and a boy her age, named Olly, refuses to let her ignore him. 

Everything Everything is a clever romance with an ending that's an eye-opener for the characters, but also for readers. A book about, love, danger and freedom that kids and adults should all read.

Published by Delacourt Press September 1, 2015

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Jubilee Chase is a soldier on the war torn planet of Avon, her job is to keep the rebels from destabilizing the terraforming process. Flynn is one of those rebels, he just wants to stay alive while his people dream of self determination. Thrown together and deeply mistrustful of one another, these two uncover an unbelievable secret that could kill everyone on the planet. 

In this follow up to These Broken Stars, we find ourselves on a different planet, with different characters, until the Laroux corporation rears it's ugly head again. Sexy, military sci-fi (yes, those can go together). For ages 12+.

Published by Disney Hyperion December 23rd, 2014

Althea & Oliver by Cristina Moracho

They've been best friends since the age of six but Althea has just realized she's in love with Oliver. Oliver isn't sure he feels the same way, then he falls sick. When Althea goes off the deep end, drunk, high and messing around with a hopeless boyfriend, Oliver leaves town for a special hospital and doesn't even tell her. 

There is so much originality in this story, Oliver's sickness is far from conventional and Althea's downward spiral really doesn't end where you think it will. Yes, this is a love story and so much more.


Published by Penguin October 9, 2014
Review first published in meetYA@DIESEL newsletter November 2014

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

It's 1986 and although the technology is different all the other High School nightmares are just the same. 

Park is a half Korean boy trying to stay out of trouble and unnoticed at a white suburban school. He's found that the best way to do this is to plug himself into his Walkman. Eleanor is already in trouble in a house which will never feel like home and a town she doesn't know. Eventually they will become champions for one another. But first, they will fall in love.

The book is told alternately in the voices of Eleanor or Park. It's immediately apparent that there are key differences between these two people's perceptions of the same thing. A reoccurring theme in young adult novels, perhaps because it is such a fundamental lesson for us all.

Using two narrative voices also gives us access to both our protagonists' home lives. And that's where it gets darker, because although Park has an unconventional family, Eleanor's circumstances are downright ugly and getting worse every day.

Happily, the story is redemptive, but not because teen love saves the day, because these young people save themselves, together.

This is a truly extraordinary book, written so true to life, that all the humor, fear, anger and confusion make perfect sense. I love the music references, I love the characters and I love the author's blog.

If you are a teenager or have ever been a teenager, read this book. If you have ever been in love, read this book. If you have ever been afraid, read this book. 

I hope I'm making my point strongly enough.

Age 13 +

Published February 26, 2013 by St Martin's Griffin