We Were the Liars by e. lockhart

I love a tale that spins out of a tiny slice of a life I could never imagine.  Set on an island in Martha's Vineyard, an island the Sinclair family owns, We Were the Liars, is such a story. It is told by one of the strong-chinned, blond, well-educated Sinclair grandchildren, Cadence.  She seems smart, witty, and trust-worthy at first, as if she is letting us in on the grandeur of the Sinclair family.  They are a family of money, manners, traditions, servants and cooks, and secrets.  They don't speak of the money they have, nor do they speak of the addictions, divorces, or other messy parts of their lives. Cadence's cousins, Johnny and Mirren, are close to her age, and they represent the generation that starts to question the rules of the game the family has played for so long.  The group of teenagers call themselves the Liars, setting up readers with curious questions about what their self-title might really mean.

Cadence falls in love with the boy who begins to visit to the island each summer as a friend of the family.  The boy is dark-skinned, smart, and principled; his name is Gat Patil.  Cadence and Gat steal moments and memories falling in love while scrambling for other moments of freedom and independence with the cousins, the other Liars.  As the drinking, intolerance, hatred, and fear sneak in like fog swirling around the Sinclair family, readers are left with a narrator, Cadence, who is back on the island after missing a summer, and there is a mysterious secret around her absence. Cadence tells the readers of her amnesia, leaving us to wonder what terrible tragedy she survived.  Since she seems to be revealing secrets of her family's darker-side, we never question the soap-opera-y presence of her amnesia...we fear the worst for her.  And when the cloak of secrecy is unveiled, it is shocking and twisting and wonderful story-telling at it's best.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Part paranormal romance, part mystery yet also part realistic fiction. I think SAMS 8th graders (and mature 7th graders) will really enjoy trying to put the pieces of Mara's life together along with Maya as she tries to do the same.  She's a regular girl who struggles to get along with her mom, resents her "perfect" older brother, and is terribly shook after an accident kills her best friends and other kids.  A move to Miami and a fancy private, prep high school is supposed to help her leave her demons behind.  But what secrets isn't Maya remembering?  Could they have anything to do with the present? Can handsome, loyal, fierce Noah help her make sense of it all?

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Part-mystery, part-coming-of-age realistic fiction book, and all intrigue. Georges, grade 7, would like to move back into his old house.  And not just because of the cool fire-escape bed he had in his bedroom- but also because his mom wouldn't have to work doubles back and his dad would still have a job.  

Georges' new apartment is full of quirky neighbors, especially siblings Candy, Safer, and Pigeon.  All three are siblings of an eclectic family whom he meets after his dad signs him up to be in the building's Spy Club. His friendship with Safer revolves around espionage, solving mysteries and dealing with Candy, Safer's omni-present younger sister.

School is barely tolerable for Georges even with a teacher who celebrates every Friday with him and a interesting, quiet and noble friend who goes by Bob English Who Draws.  Jerky, bullying kids taunt him by calling him "Gorgeous" and bug him about the upcoming science lab, his volleyball skills, and other mundane middle school matters.  Until Bob English Who Draws and Georges form a coalition...

Readers will find themselves rooting for Georges and his family, inquisitively wondering about Safer and his siblings, and searching for the meaning of the title of the book.  Readers will also likely find themselves content in the end and happy to have known Georges and his crew.

P.S. For any grown-ups and/or parents: the Scrabble tile messages between Georges and his mom are lovely. One of my favorite parts of the book. So sweet.

Last Dog on Earth by Daniel Ehrenhaft

You'll quickly recognize the realistic characters in this boy-and-his-dog story.  The protagonist is an angry teenage boy (once you meet his step-father you'll understand why he's angry) who is ordered to get a dog to teach him some responsibility.  The task of raising a puppy isn't enough to keep the boy out of reform school, but it's the first hook into the major plot in the book: a sci-fi, medical mystery surrounding a dangerous and deadly disease popping up in dogs across the state.

There are several key relationship in this book: the boy Logan learns about love and friendship from his dog Jack, Logan learns forgiveness from his step-father Robert, and he learns about trust from his real father, a genius veterinarian researcher.

While this book is a great choice for boys, I think all dog-lovers will enjoy this fast-paced realistic fiction/sci-fi/mystery.  Keep reading, everyone!

-stenson

Inner Circle by Brad Melzer

I would describe this book as The DaVinci Code meets National Treasure.  It's a thrilling mystery written mostly for adults, but there's a good number of my 7th graders who will devour this book.

It centers around a young archivist who accidentally steps smack-dab into the middle of a dangerous secret club that surrounds the President of the United States.   Even though it's a modern-day mystery, I learned a lot of history and Washington D.C.

It's not a political book, but there are definitely players on two-sides, and readers do not know is good and who is bad. 

Here's a little trailer for the book.  For more information check out the author's website.  Keep Reading!         -stenson

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Many thanks to Wyatt A. for recommending this book that is a pop-culture, sci-fi mystery wrapped all in one.  Follow the adventurous, mysterious ride 14 year old Tory takes her Sci-Phile friends on when they are infected by a virus that changes their DNA so that they become a wolf-like pack with wolf-like senses and abilities.  Jammed pack with risk, adventure, twists and turns, this book will have you gasping out loud right through the end.  you are in for an adventure.  Enjoy!

The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt

Two 14-year old best friends from St. Paul stumble into the ride of their lives when they find themselves in the middle of a stolen art mystery.  The books takes readers to Paris, London, and Amsterdam as they follow the protagonists trying to uncover the mystery of the "Gallery Guy".  Many aspects of this book are enjoyable:

• the friendship the girls have...it's not perfect, but it's reflective of how friendships go in 9th grade.
• the history of art lessons...I didn't know I was so interested in classic, museum-esque type art!
• the places the book takes you...I can't wait to go to Europe to see those places for myself
• the mystery...I love a caper!  
• the MN connection...since these girls live in St. Paul, there are references I recognized from being a St. Paul-ite myself.  Fun!

Hope you enjoy it.  It looks like it's going to be the first in the Lucas and Kari series. Just another reason to fall in love with this book.  Let me know if you pick it up!  Keep reading, everyone!

thanks to letsbuyit.co.uk for the image!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Flavia, the protagonist from the mystery The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, made me laugh, made me want to study Chemistry, and made me keep reading until the caper was solved. I really fell in love with little Flavia. Feisty, smart, fun- this little girl has two sisters she's constantly trying to poke, pinch, and prod and a father she is constantly trying to delight and charm. The family lives in her deceased mother's family's estate in 1940's Britain.

Day by day, Flavia is entertained mostly by the chemistry lab in the family mansion, but all of that changes one day when she stumbles upon a dead man in the garden of the estate.

Flavia is part Scout, part Sherlock Holmes, and part Marie Lavoisier (don't worry, I didn't know who that was until I read this book either), and she pulls you right into her mind, her home, and her life- a land where emotions though rare sneak out, observations are detailed, complete, and funny, and the story, like the mystery at the center of it, only gets better and better.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is definitely a challenge book (those of you who have had me as a teacher will know what I mean) because I think it's intended audience is grown-ups. However, this delightful tale will be enjoyed by all ages, and the writing is simply too brilliant and too fun to not be shared by everyone of all ages.

Enjoy! The book is a part of a series so get excited for all sorts of amusement.

Please visit the sit for more information about this charming, fun series. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. The picture above was taken from the site linked to the left: www.flaviadeluce.com.

Keep reading!

-stenson

Whodunnit?

My days of winter break fill up with hours and hours of reading. It is glorious. It's even more glorious when the winter weather gets fierce, and everybody is forced to stay put and stay inside. Ah, what a splendid week!

The Likeness by Tana French was a book Santa stuck in my stocking. It is a sequel of sorts to a book I read last year, so it was intriguing to see what the characters had been up to since I last "saw" them. While it's not a book most kids would enjoy, I really do recommend it (and it's predecessor In the Woods) to grown-ups who enjoy good mysteries.

Knowing how much a good mystery can grab readers and engage them for a wild and thrilling ride, I decided to collect a list of books for teens who like mysteries. It's not exclusive, so let me know if you have others to add.

Here are a few that I found...hope you enjoy! Keep reading, everyone!

First, my favorite new mystery for young adults

Blundell, Judy. What I Saw and How I Lied. 2009.

In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome change her life and that of her family forever.

Hiaasen, Carl. Scat. 2009.

Nick and his friend Marta decide to investigate when a mysterious fire starts near a Florida wildlife preserve and an unpopular teacher goes missing.

Grisham, John. The Client. 1993.

Eleven-year-old Mark Sway accidentally witnesses a murder and becomes the target of relentless prosecutors and the mob, and the only person who can save him is Reggie Love, an attorney barely out of law school.

Duncan, Lois. I Know What You Did Last Summer. 1973.

Four teenagers, trying to conceal their responsibility for a hit-and-run accident, are pursued by a mystery figure seeking revenge.

Plum-Ucci, Carol. The Body of Christopher Creed. 2000.

Did he run, was he kidnapped, or was he murdered?

Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. 1999.

Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for murder. As the circumstances unfold, readers get a chance to think carefully about the crime and decide his innocence or guilt.

Konigsburg, E.L. Silent to the Bone. 2000.

Is the British nanny lying when she accuses 13-year-old Bramwell of injuring his baby step-sister? His best friend thinks so, but Bramwell isn't talking. He's gone mute.