Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick****

Never Fall Down is an amazing story of Arn Chorn-Pond, a child caught up in the killing fields of Cambodia. It shows the toughness of many of the children in Cambodia, but it also shows their weaknesses too. Forced to be a child soldier, Arn has to fight to survive and witnesses other kids dying every day from malaria, diarrhea, and cholera. Arn was one of the only child soldiers that survived. Now he speaks around the US about his time in Cambodia.

I think this book was very good and made me realize that many of us have a better life than others. I am not a fan of historical ficiton, but this book is one of the best books I have ever read. Definitely recommend this for anyone who needs a little soul searching.

ShadowMagic by John Lenahan*****

Shadowmagic is for anyone who likes Percy Jackson mixed with Slathbog's Gold. It has the right amount of action and humor in it. Not very many books can compare with this one though.  It makes you feel a little silly because it's so funny until you realize that you're being stabbed in the back, or almost getting clubbed, and waking someone up (and facing dangerous consequences). Bad idea, very bad idea indeed. You don't want to mess with banshees. Or Brownies. Or trees.

I liked this book because it flows easily from one scene to the next, and that keeps the action going all the time. The characters are very well described and well developed. Fergal is my favorite character. He's funny and full of tricks. You'll laugh when you read this book, and despite the fact that all the characters are fantasy, you'll feel like it's sort of real world. In fact, John Lenahan creates such a detailed setting that it feels like you could just jump in.

A Millon Suns by Beth Revis****

A Million Suns is the sequel to Across the Universe, and I liked it a lot better. In this book, they discover a secret, a very, very big secret. Amy and Elder are following a set of clues left by Orion (an evil villain in the first book who was supposed to be Eldest), but as they do this, the people of Godspeed are rebelling. The ship is sent into chaos when people start to die from the Phydus patches, a type of drug.

This book has a better plot than Across the Universe. There is more action and the plot really takes off (sort of like Godspeed). This is for readers who enjoy some mystery and sci fi but don't need a lot of romance when the main characters are a boy and a girl. I can't wait to read Shades of Earth, the final book in this trilogy.
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Across the Universe by Beth Revis**

Across the Universe is about Amy & Elder, two people who unexpectedly meet. Amy is a passenger on Godspeed, but she's frozen in ice because this journey takes over 300 years. Elder is the son of the "captain" of Godspeed, and is next to become Eldest. They meet when Elder unplugs her chamber, causing her to melt. What happens with Amy and Elder, and will they reach across the universe?

This book was very, ahem, inappropriate for a young adult. I definitely would not recommend this for younger readers. There's a lot of talk about mating, which is necessary for the ship's survival. I also thought it was a little dull and boring because so much of it focuses on Amy in her cryochamber. However, I do plan to read the sequel because I don't like to leave a series unfinished.

Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer****

Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am is all about Ben, a boy who's going to war without telling anyone. As he's in Iraq, an IED (which is a type of hidden bomb) blows up his squad's Humvee, injuring almost everyone fatally. Ben survives, but what has happened to him, his squad, and most importantly, his memory?

This one is definitely a book for boys who would like a short read and a bit of action. It is a read for anyone who is going to war because it is so realistic. It shows dangers and other bad things that happen. War is brutal, and you will feel incredible sadness for Ben as he deals with the fallout.

The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson ***

The Lost Code is about a post-disaster earth where the humans have gone too far with their technology, including controlling the weather and mutating genes. Owen is the main character. He gets sent to camp Eden where he discovers something very unusual about himself and some of the other campers that forces him to examine who he really is.

I liked this book for a couple of good reasons. First of all, it's sci fi, which is my second favorite genre (after fantasy). Second, it was long and kept me going. I really found it interesting. I didn't even need to pick up another book for today (but I probably will). This is a book for "distance" readers--it will keep you thinking for awhile, and you'll enjoy all the twists and turns.

iBoy by Kevin Brook *****

iBoy is all about Tom, a normal boy whose next door neighbor asks him to meet her in the park. As he waits, he hears, "Hey, Harvey!" (Harvey is his last name) and looks up. He sees an object flying towards him and BAM! The end of his normality.

I liked this book because it was all about an unexpected hero from an unexpected accident. iBoy is a sci fi book, and I liked it because Tom could be a kid in your school right now. But I don't wish it were me.

Solitary by Alexander Gordon Smith *****

There's heaven, there's hell, and then there's the Furnace.

Solitary is the sequel to Lockdown, a thrilling novel for scare enthusiasts that takes place in a prison. Solitary begins right when Alex, Zee, and Gary jump in the river, and then the book takes off. From the warden to the rats, this is a series you don't want to miss.

This book is so good that I finished it in 2 hours. I loved this book because there was always something new that happened whenever something else got old. For example, tired of reading about kids trapped in a pit? Then wait until a mutation rescues them. This is definitely dystopian sci fi, but so much different from Hunger Games because as futuristic as we may want it to be, it could be happening right under our feet--literally.