There's more to thrill about with several more teen books!
Five teens struggle with the aftermath of a bombing at school in Lurlene McDaniel's "Red Heart Tattoo."
When several troubled teens set off a bomb the day before Thanksgiving break, a high school is forever changed. Nine people die, including students and teachers. Fifteen are critically injured. 22 are injured. Morgan, a happy-go-lucky popular girl thought she had it all. But she and her boyfriend, Trent are caught in the blast. Kelli, Morgan's best friend, has been distancing herself due to a secret she's been keeping and one that will change her forever. "Roth" Rothman, an outsider, has found himself drawn to Morgan, despite their differences. And Liza, Roth's friend, doesn't like what she sees. As everyone recovers, no one will ever be the same again.
Told in varying points of view before and after the tragedy, this is a story that will be talked about by parents and teens alike.
"Red Heart Tattoo" is published by Delacorte Press. It is $15.99.
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Newbery Medal winner Rebecca Stead tells a story where things aren't as they seem in "Liar & Spy."
Georges has moved into a new apartment building. He meets the strange Safer, a 12-year-old from an eccentric family that wants to form a "spy" club. He seems to think their upstairs neighbor is up to no good. Georges thinks he's crazy, but soon gets sucked into the game too. But when Georges makes a discovery about the villainous neighbor, it changes everything he thought he knew about Safer. Who is he really? And is he really Georges' friend? And what has Georges been keeping from himself?
This is a story about friendship and courage. Once you think you have it figured out, it twists again. It's a very cool ride.
"Liar & Spy" is published by Wendy Lamb Books. It is $15.99.
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A girl makes a wish for another life and gets it - whether she wants it or not in Roxanne St. Claire's "Don't You Wish."
Annie is an ordinary girl, who is bullied by the popular kids, secretly has a crush on a cute boy who doesn't notice her, and whose parents shop at Wal-Mart. But when her mom shows her a picture of her boyfriend before she met Annie's father and his wildly successful life now, Annie wonders who she would have been if she had a different dad. Wouldn't she be the same? Through an accident with an experiment of her dad's Annie wakes up in an alternate reality where her mother married the boyfriend. Annie is now the rich and popular Ayla. Her life is completely different. She has the hot boyfriend, great clothes, and the cool friends. But is that what Annie wants? Now all Annie wants is to get back to her reality. But a romance with the boy perfect for her makes her wonder where she really belongs.
This is a cool science fiction love story, of alternate realities and the question of who you really are on the inside. It will keep you up all night reading until the very last page to see what happens next.
"Don't You Wish" is published by Delacorte Press. It is $17.99.
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Contact Amy Phelps at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com
