Variant

Wells, R. (2011). Variant. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Interest level: Grades 8+
Reading level: 4+

Seventeen-year old Benson Fisher is a foster kid in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He's lived in over thirty foster homes since he was five and just wants to stay put and belong for a little while.  He finds out about a scholarship to the Maxwell Academy, a private school in New Mexico. He is accepted immediately and he walks away from his current foster family, never looking back. He's picked up by a representative to the school and is taken to the school deep in a forest and deposited at the doorstep without even an escort in. It quickly becomes apparent that things are not normal at this school. First off, it's completely run by the students with not an adult in site. There are video cameras everywhere and the slightest infraction is punished severely. Students have banded together into three rival groups who all fight for the best jobs. Escape is not possible, or is it? Benson is determined to figure out what's going on at this sinister school where students sometimes just disappear and he's determined to escape. Will he succeed?

This is a E-ticket ride all the way. There is little back story on Benson, but it really isn't necessary because all that really matters is the here and now at Maxwell Academy. The idea of young people being trapped together and at the mercy of unseen adult puppet masters is not an all together uncommon theme is YA literature, but that doesn't detract from this story. There is a lot of violence in this book, with students killing each other in order to survive. The sense of urgency and the twist and turns as things are rarely what they seem to be will keep readers turning the pages and anxiously awaiting the sequel. Hand this to older readers who enjoyed The Maze Runner trilogy and are anxious for more.

The Hunger Games

Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Interest Level: Grades 7+

Reading Level: 5+

Katniss lives in District 12 of Panem, a nation that exists in North America in the future. District 12 is the farthest from the Capitol and therefore one of the poorest. Katniss' mother is a healer and her father is dead from a mining accident. In order to keep the family fed, Katniss illegally leaves District 12 on a regular basis to hunt, a crime that is overlooked because even the District's Mayor buys her meat. District 12, like all the Districts, is required to send two Tributes- one male and one female- to the Hunger Games and when Katniss' little sister Rue is chosen, she volunteers to go in her place.The Hunger Games are a brutal reality-TV show put on to entertain the residents of the Capitol and to control the residents of the Districts. Only one person can be a Victor each year, a position that earns them a house, food and money for the rest of their life. Katniss, like every other Tribute is determined to be that person. When the Capitol announces that if both Tributes from the same District are alive at the end that both will be proclaimed victors Katniss is determined to repay her debt to Peeta, the baker's boy who has saved her life numerous times. Will she succeed?

This is a brutal story, much like Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. Katniss is a strong and likeable character from the beginning, concerned about her family's safety and distrustful of those around her. She has spent far too long relying on herself to easily trust, but she must earn the admiration of others if she hopes to survive. Peeta, too, is a likeable character, but in a more understated way. Readers will feel for his unrequited love for Katniss and wonder how she can possibly think his proclamations are only for the sake of the camera. The fighting scenes will have readers on the edge of their seats, but eagerly turning the page to see what's next.  The stunning conclusion will have them running to the library for the next installment. (NOTE: The popularity of this novel has had readers as young as 3rd grade requesting it from their librarians. The violence and the basic premise of the book may be too much for readers that young.)

Candor

Bachorz, P. (2009). Candor. New York, NY: Egmont USA.
Interest level: Grades 6+
Reading level: 3+

Oscar Banks is a model son who lives in the model city of Candor, Florida which his father created. Oscar can do no wrong- he gets perfect grades, is the perfect boyfriend and is the poster child for all that Candor stands for. Families pay a hefty price to move to Candor, but what they don’t realize is that they have given up more than just money. Everything the residents of Candor do is influenced by the subliminal messages that Oscar’s father has playing throughout the town.  Oscar, however, has figured out how to bypass the brainwashing and is all to happy to share it with new teens who want to escape the town- if they have enough money to pay him. Then rebellious Nia moves in and Oscar falls for her, wanting to help her to save her from the brainwashing rather than for money. Will Oscar and Nia be able to escape Candor without being caught? Or will they end up in the Listening Room, with memories of each other erased forever?

This was a fast and compelling read. Most readers will be to young to have knowledge of the Stepford Wives (google it, kids!), which this book bears resemblance to, but they may have heard of Celebration, FL, the perfect community which Disney built. This book is sure to spark many conversations about morals what it means when we strive for sameness. The ending seems to be set up for a sequel, but Bachorz has said that wasn’t her intention. Hopefully she’ll write one anyway.

The Giver

The Giver

By Lois Lowry

Interest Level: Grades 5+

Reading Level: 5+

Jonas lives in the Community, where Sameness is valued above all else. In the Community, there is no pain or fear and there is little to worry about. Each child is given certain identical privileges as they progress from one year to the next, with all children celebrating their year at the same time. Children are not born to their parents, but are raised by married couples who are matched based on compatibility once they apply for children and every family is perfectly balanced with one boy and one girl child. Jonas, like all other Elevens who are about to become Twelves, is very curious about what job he'll be assigned at this year's Ceremony of Twelves. When he is passed over he experiences confusion and then shock when it is revealed that he will be the Community's next "Receiver of Memories." His days are vastly different than he expected as memories are passed on to him by the Giver- the previous Receiver of Memories. As he receives these memories he comes to realize that the peace and stability of the Community are because the residents have no memories of anything else. Jonas and the Giver decide that for the good of the Community Jonas must leave so that the memories will be released for all to experience while the Giver will remain behind to help the Community deal with this sudden influx of memories.

This is a complex book with complex themes. Readers will be asked to question the importance of memories, of individuality, and to look at the differences between right and wrong, good and bad. The discussion of what one would be willing to give up to eliminate pain, fear and conflict will come up as well as the idea of what it means to be human and to live life. I've read this book several times and each time am always stunned by the emotion it still elicits. Younger readers will likely take something completely different away from the book than will older readers, but both equally enjoy it. Readers will want to pick up Gathering Blue and Messenger when they are finished with this one.

Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. Boston, MA. Houghton Mifflin.

Epoch

 

Epoch  by Timothy Carter

Interest Level: Grades 6+

Reading Level: 4+

Fourteen-year old Vincent Drear is living in interesting times. Society as a whole has accepted that the world is at the End of Times and many religions have popped up claiming to be the true way to be Saved. Vincent's family are part of the fundamentalist Triumverates and spend their time protesting movies about boy wizards and handing out leaflets. Vincent doesn't believe quite as fervently as his parents or his older brother and because of this spends a lot of time locked in the family chapel. His latest offense is that he didn't preach the Triumverate word at his school's "End of World Science Fair" but being locked in the chapel isn't his biggest problem- it's the strange elf-like creature he spotted under one of the displays!


He soon finds that most humans don't see magical creatures and his ability to has captured the interest of the elves, who implant a ladybug creature in his nose to cause him pain if he doesn't do as they ask. Vincent soon finds out that the world will be ending in two days so that a new Epoch can be entered- complete with a new dominant species. It's up to him to find the portal out of this world or risk all humanity being eaten by demons. This is a funny, irreverent look at religion that will have readers laughing out loud at some of the antics- if they aren't offended.

Carter, T. (2007). Epoch. Woodbury, MN: Flux.

Cinder

 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Interest Level: Grades 7+

Reading Level: 5+

As is apparent by the title and cover art, this book is a retelling of the classic tale of Cinderella. Cinder is a gifted mechanic and a cyborg, living in New Beijing after World War IV with her mother and two stepsisters. She's an unwanted member of the family by all but her youngest stepsister, hated because she was being brought home by her stepfather for the first time when he was killed in an accident. But her talents bring home money so she's tolerated, but just barely.

Things really become interesting when Cinder meets Prince Kai, soon to be Emperor of New Beijing, who visits her stall in the market to have his tutor robot repaired. Although he shows interest in Cinder she rebuffs him because she's a cyborg and he doesn't know it. Add to the story a pandemic plague that both the Emperor and Cinder's young stepsister are struck with, Cinder's unusual immunity to the plague, inhabitants of the moon who can change people's will with their thoughts, and Cinder's mysterious past and you have a story that will keep readers interested and waiting for the next installment.

Advanced Reader copy received without compensation. Publication date January, 2012

Meyer, Marissa. (2012). Cinder. New York, NY: Feiwel & Friends. 

Unwind

 

Unwind  by Neal Shusterman

Interest Level: Grade 7+

Reading Level: 5+

This dystopian novel, set sometime in America's future takes place after the Heartland Wars. This second civil war was waged between Pro-life and Pro-choice armies, with the U.S. Army attempting to mediate. To end the war the "Bill of Life" was created, which allows parents to have their children "unwound" between the ages of 13 and 17. Unwinding is said not to end the teens life, but instead put them in a divided state. Unwinding is the harvesting of all the body parts of the child to be used as donor parts for sick or injured people.

The story is told in alternating chapters primarily by fifteen year old Connor whose parents have signed his Unwind orders, Risa an orphaned ward of the state who is deemed not a talented enough pianist to be supported any longer, and Levi who was raised in a religious family as a tithe. Their lives collide in an accident while all three are on their way the harvesting camps and the story that ensues is one that will be sure to bring up a lot of conversation about abortion, human rights, organ donation and more.

Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Laddertop

Laddertop v.1

Written by Orson Scott Card and Emily Janice Card

Illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza

IL: Grades 6 and up

RL: 3+

Orson Scott Card pairs up with his children to create this manga like novel. Laddertop is set in the future where an alien race known as the Givers have set giant towers known as Ladders to power the Earth. Robbi and her BFF Azure have been accepted to Laddertop Academy, an exclusive school which trains young people to climb the ladders and perform maintenance on the Ladders. While Azure is excited at the prospect, Robbi is not- she didn't apply to Laddertop because she wants to stay at home to protect her step-siblings from her abusive stepfather. When both Robbi and Azure get accepted, Robbi is excited yet worried to leave home. We follow Robbi, Azure and the other "web rat trainees" through their training school and finally up to the ladders, where it becomes apparent that something strange is going on.

There is no resolution in this story as it's the first installment of this series and in fact it ends as a cliffhanger, leaving the reader waiting for the next volume. This is a light read, not serious manga, but it's a good introduction to the genre. The illustrations are crisp and add to the story. The adults in the book are of two types- clueless and there just to oversee the children and nefarious, menacing men who you think might cause harm. However, the young female characters are strong and adventurous making this good for girl readers who are looking for adventure.

Card, O.S. and Card, E.J. (2011). Laddertop. New York, NY: Tor/Seven Seas Paperback.

Scored

Scored

By Lauren McLaughlin

240 p.

IL: Grades 7-9

RL: 5+

**This book is scheduled to be published October, 25, 2011. I borrowed the advance copy from a friend and did not receive any compensation for this review**

This novel is set in the future and is the story of Imani, a girl whose family has agreed to have her scored. Money is scarce, entrance to college is brutal and jobs depend on it. Enter the Score.

ScoreCorp has developed a computer program that they say will help level out the playing field and allow people who wouldn't otherwise be able to advance do so. So how does ScoreCorp score? Intelligent cameras that are nearly everywhere in town watch every move of those that they score. They record what  Imani and every other Scored. does. They know who Imani's with and the decisions she makes. And then score accordingly. It's almost as if the program can read her mind.

Forget having friends. The scored socialize according to their Score and are always looking for a way to move up in peer groups by increasing their score.

So what happens when a rogue teacher assigns a project where it benefits the Scored to work with the Unscored? What will Imani learn about ScoreCorp and the very nature of the score itself? This fast paced dystopian novel will grab more mature readers as they look at what it means to be recorded all the time.

McLaughlin, L. (2011). Scored. New York, NY: Random House.