Teens get a glimpse of a post-apocalyptic world through the eyes of a teen in "Chasers" by James Phelan.
Jesse has come to New York from Australia to be part of a teen U.N. One day, when he and his group, Dave, Anna and Mini, board a subway train, a horrific explosion rocks the train. Jesse wakes up to find everyone on the train dead, except himself and his friends. When they go to the street to investigate, they see buildings falling, cars wrecked, complete devastation everywhere. When they finally see people they have hope, until they see them trying to drink from any source - including from other people! Jesse and his friends must now find shelter in the big city and find a way to survive, from both the elements and the Chasers.
This is a scary post-apocalypse story of teens trying to survive on their own. And the big twist at the end will mess with your head.
"Chasers" is published by Kensington. It is $9.95 and 246 pages long, with a Q&A from the author, discussion questions, a preview of the next book and a note from the author about the series. Look for "Survivor" coming in May.
A teen is a suspect in his father's murder and attempts to solve it himself in Niall Leonard's "Crusher."
Finn Maguire left school early to help take care of expenses with his stepfather, who has raised him like his own son since his mother abandoned both of them years ago. Finn returns home from his dead-end job one day to find his father dead - and himself as the prime suspect. Finn suspects a crime lord his father was profiling for a screenplay could have something to do with it, so he takes it upon himself to do a little investigating of his own. But has he put himself in harm's way?
This is a great crime noir murder mystery for both teens and adults that immediately captivates the readers from the first page and won't let go until the very end.
"Crusher" is published by Delacorte Press. It is $17.99 and 323 pages long.
An online game ensnares a teenage girl who is sick of her friend being in the spotlight in "Nerve" by Jeanne Ryan.
Vee has been her best friend Sydney's confidant, sidekick and makeup artist forever.
But when it seems like Sydney is making the moves on her co-star, and Vee's crush, she does something totally outside of her normal life - she decides to take a dare for the online game, Nerve. She captures the attention of the online audience, and wins a prize.
And then she is assigned another dare, this time with a bit of assistance of Ian, a hot fellow player. Together, Vee and Ian attract a lot of attention - and grow closer together as the dares get even more humiliating and dangerous. And yet, Vee can't give up on the rush she gets and the prizes she's earning. But when the game goes too far, has Vee gone too far to get away now?
This is a head-trip of a book, that will make you question the popularity of reality shows and online games.
"Nerve" is published by Dial. It is $17.99 and 294 pages long.
A girl uses her powers of "seeing" the past of clothes to try to solve a murder in Sophie Littlefield's "Hanging By a Thread."
Clare Knight has returned to her hometown after many years after her parents' divorce. She is attempting to rebuild a friendship with her former best friend, Rachel, who has become a popular queen bee, and trying to find a place to fit in in a town where her grandmother is known as the town "kook," and parents are fearful of a serial killer that has struck the past two summers. Clare's got an eye for fashion and is already redesigning clothes, but when she touches an old denim jacket and "sees" a vision surrounding the jacket's last owner, she is frightened. Add in the complication of meeting Jack, a cute guy who is showing her interest, but may have been the boyfriend of the jacket's owner, has Rachel's "talent" gotten her in the sights of a killer?
This is a cool mystery with a bit of an "otherwordly twist" that will intrigue both mystery and romance lovers.
"Hanging By a Thread" is published by Delacorte Press. It is $16.99 and 270 pages long.
Contact Amy Phelps at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com
