Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green, 2005 Speak

     When Miles Cavalry decides to attend his father's boarding school in southern Alabama it is driven home to his parents how disconnected he is from his high school in Florida. At Culver Creek, Miles meets the Colonel, his new roommate, Alaska, the girl who lives down the way, and Takumi, the third leg of their stool and an Asian-American rapper. The Colonel absorbs Miles into their social group and re-christens him, Pudge.
     In contrast to his focus on studies Pudge and his new friends are in competition and conflict with the "Weekday Warriors". The rich kids from Birmingham are stereotypical popular kids, and the friends are the pranksters. Though the groups hold a good-natured war their greater enemy is the Eagle, who runs the school. A couple brushes with authority teach Pudge the importance of planning ahead and brazen confidence to get out of trouble.
     With Alaska and her mysteriously fascinating knowledge of all things contraband leading him, Pudge becomes adept at balancing the rigorous acadamia at Culver Creek with smoking, drinking, and attempting to find a girlfriend. Slowly Pudge facts for the unattainable Alaska Young while she self-destructs.
     Just as everything seems to be falling into place Pudge, Takumi, and the Colonel's lives fall apart. Alaska dies in a car accident after a night of heavy drinking. After a period of incredulity the three young men and a sophomore, Lara, search for answers. The search coincides with the syllabus of their religious class and as the four students search for Alaska's truth they find camaraderie and that she managed to tie them even closer together.
     With some graphic promiscuity Looking for Alaska was written for late high school and college readers. It tackles issues of intention and fate with honesty and humor. Readers who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars will enjoy John Green's first novel.

Twilight

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, 2005 Little, Brown and Company

     Bella Swan moves from her mother's home in Arizona to live with her father in small-town Forks Washington. Bella's move allows her mother to spend more time with her new stepfather. Forks is on the Pacific Ocean and borders on the LaPush Indian Reservation. Most of Bella's time is spent moping at being so far from home and spending time with her distant father. Until she meets the Cullen Family. Edward Cullen is a mysterious young man and he captures Bella's attention, just as she captures his.
     Edward is a vampire with the ability to read minds, except with Bella he cannot see into her thoughts. With his four siblings the Cullens are the outsiders who refuse to take part in the social structure. He pays close attention to Bella, even protecting her from a classmate's runaway vehicle. But the attention to short-lived. Thus begins a hot-cold relationship until Bella is rejecting perfectly normal young men for the possibility of a romantic relationship with the mysterious Edward.
     After a weekend trip to the LaPush Reservation where Bella met Jacob Black (son of her father's best friend). Jacob is a bit younger than Bella and her human friends but shares the local legend of the Cullen vampires. A quick internet search later Bella is convinced her mystery man is really a vampire, but she loves him too much to worry about the possible risks.
     Bella confronts Edward after he saves her from yet another threat (this time muggers in a dark alley). He reveals his secret and warns Bella away. Bella refuses to cave to his warning the two begin a tumultuous relationship which will draw them through another three books.
     Twilight is the first of four novels detailing the relationship between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. The story focuses on the interactions between the two, sometimes at the expense of secondary characters. Younger readers will enjoy the ease of reading while some content may be mature. A quick read for experienced readers, Twilight encouraged young readers to explore the written word at a time when pleasure-reading had fallen out of vogue.

Eldest

Eldest by Christopher Paolini, 2005 Knopf Books

     Upon surviving Galbatorix's attack on Farthen Dur in the dwarven city of Tronjheim Eragon must recover from the injuries inflicted by the Shade Durza. Saphira and Arya destroyed the great rose sapphire to save Eragon's life and allow him to kill the Shade. King Hrothgar adopts Eragon into his house and the young man becomes a prince in the Dwarven kingdom. When the Varden's leader is murdered in the tunnels below Farthen Dur Lady Nasuada is elected to replace her father.
     Amid the turmoil and reorganization Arya suggests Eragon and Saphira return to the elven capital Ellesmere when she returns home. The pair join Arya and her party as they travel to Du Weldenvarden. In the Elves' city Arya introduces Eragon to Oromis, an ancient Elf Dragon Rider.
     Oromis and his dragon Glaedr are crippled and so must hide from the King lest Galbatorix and his enslaved dragon, Shruikan, murder them. The pair teach Eragon and Saphira the classics: logic, strategy, magic theory, and scholarship.
     During his time of scholarship Eragon's cousin Roran marries the butcher's daughter Katrina. When the Ra'zac return along with Galbatorix's soldiers and attack the village Roran and the men are armed by the Metalsmith Horst. At first the men are successful, but on the second attack Katrina's father betrays them all to the king's forces. The attack spurs Roran and the men from the village to join against the king and his forces.
     In the south of Alagaesia the Varden is no longer welcome in Tronjheim and travel to Surda. The neighboring country is at first welcoming - and becomes more so when Nasuada learns to make a special and expensive lace by magic. The lace becomes a way for the Varden to fund their activities.
     Eragon continues his education and his crush on Arya. Saphira attempts to catch Glaedr's eye; as the last female dragon it is her duty to continue the race, but Eragon is disconcerted by the attention his dragon pays the older dragon. Failure helps Eragon and Saphira bond even more. With their training comes the Blood-Oath Ceremony, in which Eragon becomes faster, stronger, and his abilities are enhanced even further than his dragon-bond instigates.
     When Eragon discovers that King Galbatorix plans to attack the Varden the different strains of the story begin to meet. Roran searches for Katrina and believes his best hope is to seek the Varden's assistance. With royal forces chasing them, Roran and the village survivors make it to the Southern border to join the rebel forces. A massive battle is building along Alagaesia's southern border and the clash promises to be epic.
     In the same vein as Eragon's great fantasy Eldest builds on Paolini's foundation to bring the major forces of Alagaesia back together. While the nation hasn't quite come to civil war conflict abounds and new forces are introduced. Eldest is a good read for young adult readers who need a bit more substance on their plate.

City of Flowers

City of Flowers by Mary Hoffman, 2005 Bloomsbury

     A perfume bottle is the talisman which draws Skye Meadows across the veil between modern London and Renaissance Talia. Skye lands in Giglia, much like Italy's Florence. There he meets and is embroiled in a feud between the two ruling families: the di Chimici and Nucci.      At home Skye is shy and withdrawn--intent on protecting his mother as she recovers from a longtime illness. When he arrives in Talia he is linked with Friar Sulien -- also a pharmacist for the rich and Stravagante.
     When Arianna, Duchessa of Bellezza, and Lucien Mulholland, a transfer Stravagante from London, arrive Skye (known in Talia as Celestino) is drawn into the preparation for four di Chimici weddings. He learns to trust the people around him and also himself. Will his new-found strength be enough when the floodgates open in Talian nobility?
     Skye learns trust, he learns to change with his changing world, he learns skills in Talia which help him to become the young man he wants to be in London. The high intrigue and adventure adds to the fantasy of royal families. Older elementary school readers will enjoy the espionage which brings familiar characters back into play.

All Night Long

All Night Long by Jayne Ann Krentz, 2005 G.P. Putnam's Sons

     Irene Stenson has been fighting the demons of her parents' murders for seventeen years when an old friend surfaces from the darkness. Pamela Webb was her best friend that summer, and the reason she wasn't home the night her world fell apart. After seventeen years of silence Irene is stunned when Pamela's e-mail arrives and they arrange to meet.
     But before the women can talk about the past Pamela dies of an apparent overdose. Irene doesn't think her once friend was suicidal and looks into the mystery.
     The investigation drives her closer to the enigmatic innkeeper managing to the lodge Irene stays at during her visit. Luke Danner is an ex-marine, ex-scholar and overall fascination with his own troubles.
     As the mystery behind Pamela's death heats so does the liaison between Luke and Irene. Through several encounters with Pamela's father, a U.S. Senator, and drawing back to Irene's parents' murders the small town's secrets are coming to light.
     All Night Long is an adult novel with more mature elements including gruesome murder, drug abuse, psychological trauma, and child abuse. The story is aimed at mature readers leading them into the darkness before the characters can come out with the truth.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, 2005 Scholastic

     Harry has escaped Voldemort's clutches once again, and there is no chance the wizarding world cannot accept the return of the dark wizard--he has appeared in the Ministry of Magic itself. But Harry has been branded a spoiled attention-seeker and his reputation, along with those who support him, has been trampled in the muck. Some still doubt Voldemort's return.
     Alongside Ron and Hermione, Harry returns to Hogwarts for his sixth and penultimate year of school. Despite the chaos outside the walls, it appears not much has changed. But with Snape as his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and a new Potions Master, Harry finds himself itching to get away.
     It is that new Potions Master that gives Harry his change of scene. Horace Slughorn knew Lord Voldemort when he was young Tom Riddle and first began his quest for supremacy and immortality. Dumbledore's invitation to return to Hogwarts begins a search for Voldemort's defeat--beginning with information Slughorn may have provided the young man. But the professor is hesitant to reveal information which may paint him in a less-than-desirable light.
     Dumbledore begins to entrust Harry with a more pivotal role in the rebellion against Voldemort and his forces. While still participating in his schooling and navigating changing friendships, as well as burgeoning relationships, Harry joins the Headmaster in his search for Voldemort's horcruxes and defeat.
     The war continues to rage around Hogwarts and even the school is not the safe haven it once was. As Voldemort's power increases and the dangers surrounding their questing mount, Harry discovers something more to his fight than just the hope for peace. The second-to-last novel in the Harry Potter Series is meant for older readers and one of the darkest yet, but as outrages pile, resistance gains strength. Harry's battle becomes one the entire wizarding world can take part in.

Every Which Way but Dead

Every Which Way but Dead by Kim Harrison, 2005 HarperTorch

     In exchange for testifying against the undead vampire Piscary, Algaliarept convinces Rachel to become his demonic familiar and is on his way to collect on the deal at the beginning of the third Hollows novel. Rachel has yet to tell her friends Jenks and Ivy the night of her first journey into the Ever After, and hopes a loophole in her contract with the demon will keep her safe.
     Al and Rachel meet in a small circle of blasphemed ground in Rachel's back-graveyard where they will perform the ceremony to transfer the familiar bond from the elf-woman Ceri to Rachel. Al whines about Ceri's transformation from the spunky and spicy Elf Princess into the shell of a person she has become after a thousand years of servitude, and his dismissive attitude drives Rachel into a fine temper. Rachel convinces Al to return Ceri's soul, and through a twist of his own dealings, keeps her own soul from his grasp.
     Thus begins the tumultuous relationship between Alaliarept and Rachel. The trio stashes Ceri with Keasley, the mysterious witch from across the road, and continue to squeak by with security jobs and private runs. Rachel continues to keep her familiar-ship with Al a secret from Jenks and Ivy, and her personal life is a shambles. When her relationship with Nick cools and the connection with Kisten heats up, Rachel is in for some friction from a jealous Ivy.
     New allies and friends prove their worth in Ceri and David Hue, a werewolf reprising his role from the second Hollows novel. Kim Harrison brings forward the same characters in a new pattern to push Rachel through yet another personal battle, while gradually turning her into one of Cincinnati's movers and shakers. Every Which Way but Dead is an adult novel that older teen readers will enjoy.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, 2005 HarperTeen

     Ginny has directions to England and an adventure to make her more interesting. Or so she thinks.
     Virginia Blackstone's crazy aunt disappeared to London and Ginny is having trouble accepting the news of what happened there. As long as she goes on this adventure Aunt Peg designed for her, Ginny doesn't have to accept her aunt's death.
     At first the trip is fun, but the envelopes keep coming and the adventures no longer make sense. Along the way Ginny makes new friends, finds romance, and finds herself; yet she still has trouble coming to terms with what awaits at the end of the stack of envelopes. When the thirteenth and final envelope vanishes, Ginny has a decision to make.
     In limbo this summer Ginny Blackstone struggles through her first loss, finds her first real love, and makes it back to herself. But the journey is only the beginning.
     Older teens will enjoy and identify with Ginny's adventures, and her story can be helpful for younger readers dealing with their first loss.

Drowned Wedensday

Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix, 2005 Scholastic Books

      Arthur hasn't been home very long when he receives an invitation to join Wednesday’s trustee in the House. When his room begins to fill with water Arthur is confused, and then his friend Leaf gets sucked into the House’s realms with him. Arthur is afraid for his friend, but she manages to take care of herself.

     Leaf is picked up by the Flying Mantis and Arthur is picked up by the Moth. Arthur has been marked by the pirate Feverfew leading to the Moth's destruction and Arthur is only allowed to stay aboard the ship when he reveals the Mariner's Medallion (a gift from one of the Architect's sons) and helps the Moth escape Feverfew.
     Arthur convinces the captain of the Moth of his identity and is taken to meet Wednesday who promises to relinquish the key once the third part of the Will is released. Wednesday's Dawn helps Arthur find Leaf, but before he can rescue his friend Arthur must complete his mission.
     With the help of the Raised Rats, brought into the House by the Pied Piper, he finds the Will in a worldlet within Wednesday's stomach. Old friends return for the final stand as Arthur battles for the inheritance he has never really wanted.
     Though he's never been overly enthusiastic about being the Heir to the House, Arthur begins to take his duties seriously. He works toward obtaining the goal that is set out for him and makes it his own as he progresses through the Will's plan to reunite the keys. Arthur is still his own person at the end of the day and brings his own flair to the role set for him, teens young and old will find his story relate-able if somewhat fantastic. 

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison, 2005 HarperTorch

     After agreeing to help the FIB to keep her roommate from being arrested, Rachel receives a call. The FIB needs her help with a missing persons report. Rachel is paired up with the inderland specialist, Detective Glenn Edden (Cheif Edden's stepson), and they go in search of the missing witch.
     When they go back to the church to prepare Glenn insults Ivy and nearly gets himself eaten. The vampire insists on joining them when they finally begin to question the missing man's former co-workers at Piscary's pizza. Piscary uses Rachel's scar to manipulate both women, and tries to convince Ivy to bind Rachel to her.
     Rachel meets with a former professor, who is offended when people believe she is the one killing other ley-line witches to whittle down the competition, Dr. Anders believes Rachel is in her class to accuse her of the deaths. Anders's class is only one of the connections between the dead witches: they have all associated with Trent Kalamack.
     When Edden won't let her investigate Trent, Rachel takes her anger out in a sparring session with Ivy. Things get out of control when Ivy starts to play on her unclaimed scar under the guise of protecting her. Rachel rejects the offer and Ivy takes it personally requiring Nick to knock her out while they run. Rachel, Nick and Jenks visit Rachel's mother's home and, while going through photo albums in a stereotypical parent way, Rachel discovers she was genetically manipulated at a summer camp Trent's father ran.
     The trio returns to the church. Rachel and Nick attempt to create a familiar bond with Rachel's fish, but things go wrong when the demon Algaliarept shows up and tries to kill them again. When she brings the fish into Anders's class the next day, Rachel discovers she didn't bind the fish; she bound Nick as her familiar! Anders is appalled and admits to failing Rachel because her father had requested it--for the safety of the other students.
     When Glenn calls to tell Rachel that Dr. Anders is dead and they have a warrant to search the Kalamack Estate Rachel tags along. She discovers a ley-line running through Trent's office and realizes he can use it narrowing the list of species he could be. Using a spell she finds the corpse of the missing witch, but nothing to indicate Anders's body. When Rachel begins to accuse Trent of murder she is evicted from the crime scene and taken off the FIB payroll.
     Trent hires Rachel to discover the real murderer, knowing she'd find him on her own. The clues lead to Piscary who admits to summoning Algaliarept to kill both Rachel and Trent, and any ley-line witches working for Trent. The demon returns and Rachel barely survives the encounter, yet manages to get herself into a temporary lull in the threats against her.
     Rachel is persistent and while she questions her values as she is pushed into steadily grayer and grayer situations she fights to remain who she always has been. Her foray into ley-line magic gives her power to protect the ones she loves, but she must still weigh the pros and cons of using magic that could easily become black. Rachel fights for justice while trying to just live her life, despite the forces fighting against her. While younger readers may enjoy the fantasy aspect of The Good, the Bad, and the Undead it is more appropriate for older teen and adult readers.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, 2005 Mirmax Books

     Percy Jackson has always had a hard time with school; his ADHD and Dyslexia make reading difficult and sitting still nearly impossible. During a field trip to the Greek exhibit at the New York City Percy is attacked by one of the Furies, but somehow he escapes. Percy is expelled from his sixth school with the incident.
     After the close call Percy and his mother take a vacation from his stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, a man who can be best described as a chauvinistic stink-pot, his repulsive odor overpowers everything. When Percy's friend Grover, a fellow student, appears at the cabin he brings tidings of danger. He is revealed to be a half-man, half-goat satyr and close on his hooves is the Minotaur. Percy's mother drives the pair to Camp Half-Blood, but the Minotaur catches them as they reach the camp boudaries. It captures Mrs. Jackson when she cannot pass through the boundaries because she is completely mortal, she dissolves is a shower of gold dust. Percy attacks and defeats the Minotaur with its own horn, fueled by a boiling rage--it attacked his best friend and killed his mother! Percy stumbles into camp dragging Grover and the horn.
     When he wakes, Percy is moved to one of twelve cabins at the camp devoted to each of the major gods of Greece, he is under the care of Luke Castellan in the Hermes cabin. He meets Annabeth, a daughter of Athena, and learns he is the son of one of the gods (but because he has yet to be claimed he is gets shuffled into Hermes' cabin). The camp is a training grounds where the demi-gods can learn to fight and develop their god-given talents, as well as be protected from the mythical creatures wandering the world looking to destroy them.
     During a game of Capture the Flag Percy is injured by the Ares cabin. He steps into a river running through camp and is healed. Then, after the game is won, he is attacked by a hell-hound, but saved by arrow-wielding campers. He steps into the river for healing and Poseidon's trident appears over his head to lay claim; Percy is announced the son of Poseidon and moved to his cabin.
     One of the camp's directors, a centaur named Chiron, explains that Poseidon has broken a treaty between the three greatest gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades) that they would not have more demi-god children as they become too powerful and tend to start world-wide conflicts. He also reveals to Percy that Zeus's Thunderbolt has been stolen and Zeus suspects Percy. He is granted a quest to find the missing bolt and clear both his own and his father's name. Chiron points to Hades as the culprit and Percy begins his quest.
     After a visit to the Oracle Percy, Annabeth, and Grover go on their journey. Luke provides them with a pair of flying shoes, and the trio travels west to find the underground entrance to Hades before the Summer Solstice. They run into creatures of mythology including the furies, Medusa, the Chimera; encounter Ares who reveals Percy's mother is still alive; and are lost in the Den of the Lotus-Eaters in Las Vegas for several days. They escape to find there are only five days left until the Summer Solstice and their deadline.
     In Hades the trio must first bribe the ferryman to allow them to cross the river Styx, then escape as Luke's shoes try to drag Grover into Tartarus, and convince Hades that Percy did not steal his Helm of Darkness. They find Mrs. Jackson, but must leave her when they find the Lightningbolt in a backpack from Ares. On their way to return the bolt to Zeus, the travelers encounter Ares again and defeat him to retrieve Hades' Helm of Darkness, which they return via the Furies (witnesses to the battle).
     Percy risks entering the realm of Zeus by flying back to New York where Olympus has moved to the 600th floor of the Empire State Building. Zeus is pacified and Percy returns to camp where he is a normal camper.
     On the final day of camp Luke reveals he was the one who stole the bolt, on orders from Kronos who is rising from Tartarus. Luke summons a pit scorpion and Percy is nearly killed. Chiron saves him and Percy decides to live with his mother rather than stay at camp. Annabeth decides to try living with her father again, and Grover is granted the quest to search for Pan, a rare opportunity and dangerous task from which no satyr has returned.
     Percy evolves throughout the story from a young boy who has no confidence in his ability and has lived his life criticized and put into a box based on his inability. When he goes to Camp Half-blood Percy realizes he has been judged by a scale that he wasn't compatible with. In the new world of demi-gods Percy becomes a hero; he has superior warrior abilities, he is humble despite his accomplishments, and still he is a likeable person. Like many people, Percy doesn't believe in himself and it isn't until the entire mission depends on him that he realizes he can accomplish his goal.
      The Lightning Thief is an intriguing adaptation of ancient Greek mythology in the modern world. The story is suited to readers in grades three through seven, and Percy's adventures continue in The Sea of Monsters.