Pulse, by Patrick Carman (2013)

The Geography of You and Me, by Jennifer Smith (2014)

The Rule of Thoughts, by James Dashner

The Revenge of Seven (book 5 of the I Am Number Four series), by Pittacus Lore (2014)

Sold, by Patricia McCormick (2006)

Point Blank, by Anthony Horowitz (2001)

Stormbreaker (Book 1 in the Alex Rider series), by Anthony Horowitz (2000)

When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it's never good news.

Alex Rider lives with his uncle.  His parents are dead, and now his uncle has been killed.  The police said it was a car crash, but things just don't add up to Alex.  He digs a little deeper and uncovers the truth. 

Now Alex has been forced to take his uncle's place in a dangerous, impossible situation.  Can he save his country?  

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No Summit Out of Sight, by Jordan Romero with Linda LeBlanc (2014)

I heard only my labored breathing and the crunch of my crampons biting into snow as I traversed a nearly vertical slop on the north face of Mount Everest.

When he was only 9-years old, Jordan Romero was inspired to hike the Seven Summits - the tallest summit on each continent, plus one.  With the help and support of his family, Jordan went in search of his dreams.

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Not available at NOLS...yet!

We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart (2013)

Welcome to the beautiful Sinclair family.
No one is a criminal.
No one is an addict.
No one is a failure.
The Sinclairs are athletic, tall, and handsome.  We are old-money Democrats.  Our smiles are wide, our chins square, and our tennis serves aggressive.

Cadence narrates the story of her wealthy family's summers on their private island.  Three cousins and a friend, fifteen glorious summers.  Until something happens.

Well written, mysterious.

* language, sexual inferences, alcohol

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Just One Year, by Gayle Forman (2013)

It's the dream I always have:  I'm on a plane, high above the clouds.  The plan starts to descend, and I have this sudden panic because I just know that I'm on the wrong plane, am traveling to the wrong place.

This companion to Just One Day is narrated from Willem's point of view.  After he was attacked on the streets of Paris, all he can think about is Lulu and their day together.  He doesn't even know her real name, so how can he find her?  How can he find himself?

*Language, sexual inferences, alcohol

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Hollow City (Book 2 of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series), by Ransom Riggs (2014)

We rowed through the harbor, past bobbing boats weeping rust from their seams, past juries of silent seabirds roosting atop the barnacled remains of sunken docks, past fishermen who lowered their nets to stare frozenly as we slipped by, uncertain whether we were real or imagined; a procession of waterborne ghosts, or ghosts soon to be.

Hollow City begins where Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children left off.  Jacob Portman and his friends make the treacherous journey from Wales to London to find a cure for their beloved Miss Peregrine.  But it's 1940s England, and wights and hollows lurk everywhere.

This is a page-turner!

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Path of Beasts (Book 3 of the Keepers Trilogy), by Lian Tanner (2012)

It was nighttime when the three children entered the city of Jewel.  Ragged and filthy, they clung to the shadows, their feet making no sound on the cobbled paths.

The Fugleman has returned and his is ruthless.  War is imminent, and the Fugleman seeks to defeat and destroy Goldie and her friends.  There is only one way all can be saved, but is Goldie strong enough?

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City of Lies (Book 2 in the Keepers Trilogy), by Lian Tanner (2011)

The scream woke Goldie Roth from a deep sleep.

Goldie feels torn between her family and the Museum of Dunt.  Both need her, and she isn't sure what she should do.

When Bonnie is kidnapped, Goldie and Toadspit spring into action and follow child-stealers to the city of Spoke.  Not only is this city totally different form Jewel, it's the Festival of Lies where no one tells the truth.  Can Goldie save her friends?

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Museum of Thieves (Book 1 in the Keepers Trilogy), by Lian Tanner (2010)

Goldie Roth hated the punishment chains.  She hated them more than anything - except perhaps for the Blessed Guardians.

In the city of Jewel, children must be attached to an adult at all times.  Children are also forced to obey the Blessed Guardians.  But once children are 16 years old, they will be unchained on Separation Day.

Unfortunately the Separation Day is cancelled, but Goldie decides to take the opportunity to run away - risking her life as well as the lives of everyone she loves.  She finds herself in the unusual and mysterious Museum of Dunt, where Goldie's life forever changes.

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The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place - The Mysterious Howling, by Maryrose Wood (2010)

It was not Miss Penelope Lumley's first journey on a train, but it was the first one she had taken alone.

Fifteen-year-old Penelope has recently graduated from Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females.  She has traveled to Ashton Place for her first job as a governess.

"Listen to this, girls:  'Wanted Immediately:  Energetic Governess for Three Lively Children.'"  Miss Mortimer often shared breakfast with her favorites among the students and would read the newspaper aloud to them as they gobbled up their boiled oats and milk.  "Knowledge of French, Latin, History, Etiquette, Drawing, and Music will be REquired - Experience with Animals Strongly Preferred.'  Animals!  Did you hear that?  It is the perfect job for you, Penny, dear!"

But once Penelope arrives for her interview, she hears a strange howling sound, and Lady Constance doesn't want to talk about the children.  Once she is offered the job, she is asked to make a solemn oath that she will not leave her job.

Penelope gives it her all and diligently works with the children.  But Ashton Place is filled with mysteries?  Who are the children?  Why do people lurk around corners?  

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Waiting for Normal, by Leslie Connor (2008)

Maybe Mommers and I shouldn't have been surprised; Dwight had told us it was a trailer even before we'd packed our bags.

Twelve-year old Addison Schmeeter lives in upstate New York with her mom.  Addie's family situation is complicated, to say the least.  She believes in heroes and she longs for things to be normal.

I shook my head.  "I know the health stuff is important, but I think there's more to getting happy than that."

She leaned forward, kind of studying me.  I worried that I shouldn't have said it.  Soula actually might have been happy just to have good health.

"I think you need heroes, too," I said.  I made a little fist for punch.

"Heroes?"  she asked.  "Like friends and family?"

"They can be friends or family," I said.  "Webster's says-"

"Webster's?"

"The dictionary," I explained.  "A hero is someone who sets themselves apart from others.  You know - someone who is strong or shows courage, takes a risk.  And I know Webster's is probably talking about well-known heroes.  Like from the newspapers and history books.  Inventors and athletes and people like Martin Luther King."

"Uh-huh."  Soul was still listening.

"But don't you think it's possible . . . " - I twisted up my face - " . . . that every person is a hero to someone else?"

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My rating:  10 out of 10 stars
Loved, loved, loved it!

To check this read out at NOLS, click HERE!

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, by Sheila Turnage

Three Times Lucky, by Sheila Turnage