Veiled, by S.B. Niccum

Age group: 12 and up
rating: 8


"Where did I come from?" is a question all of humanity must ask itself at one time or another. Not just because we are curious, but because knowing that answer is a key to knowing who we are. Whether you are religious or not, this S.B. Niccum's book, "Veiled" gives an intriguing perspective on just that- what our existence before earth might have been.
   Tess and her "clan" are spirits living in a place much like heaven, where they and millions of other spirits must choose either a life filled with choices or one where salvation is guaranteed but agency is not. Either way, everyone must pass through a veil of forgetfulness before birth. Tess trains for earth life while dark spirits attempt any and all schemes to disrupt the divine order of things. Friends are off to earth without a moments' notice. Life in the spirit world is filled with guardian angel duties, the discovery of a parasitical but unshakable bond between spirits, and of course, romance!
    The first time I read this book, it opened my eyes to 1)the fact that we really are all equal children of God, 2)how liberating an eternal perspective is, 3) this life has meaning, 4) the difference between good and evil is not always clear, and 5)a deep realization that I was someone before coming here. I admire S. B. Niccum for writing about something religious. Almost all of the elements in the story are based on what Latter Day Saints (Mormons) believe about life before Earth.
   I give this book an 8 out of 10 because it forces the reader to come to similar conclusions, or at least examine their feelings on the matter more fully. Though many variables depend on religous beliefs, I found it to be only subtly religious. There are very few instances where Tess interacts with or thinks of God, or "the Eternals." Most of the time she was preoccupied with preparation for mortality or solving the mystery of missing spirits. Though she eventually realizes that He does care about us, it is a very passive thought and doesn't seem to influence her actions in any way.
   Nevertheless, I found the plot to be thrilling and fully admit to secretly reading it under the covers with a flashlight (don't ask me what time it was- I don't know!). While Veiled incorporates some religous belief of pre-earth life, it is much more of an adventure story. It provokes deep thought while still keeping the reader caught up in the action. I would recommend it to any and all of my friends, in hopes that they, too, would be reawakened to a fascination of life- all stages of it.

The Face on a Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney

age group: 14 and up

rating:7

Janie Johnson lives an average life: friends, school, great parents... or so she thinks. Everything changes when she recognizes her own face on a milk carton reporting children missing years ago. From there, everything goes downhill. The only explanation for the carton is that Janie has been kidnapped... by her parents? Puzzle pieces begin fitting together when she realizes that she doesn't look anything like her parents, or that her earliest pictures she can find of herself was when she was 5 years old.

Suspenseful and intriguing, The Face on the Milk Carton was not what I expected. Naturally, I was caught by the title of the book. It pulls the reader along, allowing them to be caught up in Janie's world turned upside down. I often found myself asking what I would do if I found out that I had been kidnapped. Cooney's writing style is filled with visual metaphors that make reading almost a sensory experience.

Meant for mid-teens, The Face on the Milk Carton had some elements I only suggest to the older crowd. Though there are no actual immoral scenes, the behavior is implied. I enjoyed the mystery and unveiling Janie's kidnapping, but I find books by Margaret Peterson Haddix to be a safer option.

"Ida B... and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World," by Katherine Hannigan

age group: 9 and up

rating:9

Ida B has never gone to school, well, besides the two weeks and three days when she was five. Her world revolves around happy hours with Mama and Daddy, Rufus, the ever-salivating-though-loyal dog; Lulu, her cat; the chatty apple orchard, the high-energy brook, and especially, the wise old tree. Everyday is filled with new adventures and peanut butter sandwiches. But Ida B's happy days are numbered; there is something wrong with Mama and Daddy says she has to go back to that hateful school.

I love Hannigan's writing style. Everything is felt, rather than seen. Ida B reaches into the depths of your soul and gently reminds you what it is like to be free, to be excited to be alive, to be so in touch with the world around you that you're certain the brook has just asked you to play. Ida B is real to me, and though her world may be imagined, it is charming and beautiful. It gives off a mood that is difficult to put into words.

Throughout the story (SPOILER ALERT!) Ida B has to overcome a feeling of blackness inside of her. She spends weeks acting on her "new heart," slowly transforming into "Ida," someone who prefers to be alone, who won't smile for anything, who hates the world and everyone knows it. Though I thoroughly understood and felt her anger, I missed the old Ida B. A majority of the book was spent in the hardness of her heart. It was a bit overdone and could have been resolved a lot sooner. Despite my small dislike for the length of her spite, I recommend this book to readers young and old.

Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine

age group: 11 and up

rating:10

Ella has no choice but to obey. Cursed since birth, Ella must obey what anyone tells her immediately, otherwise her head throbs, her stomach lurches... If someone were to order her to poison herself, she there would be no way to save herself. In this retelling of the classic Cinderella story, Ella goes on a quest to hunt down the fairy, Lucinda, giver of her curse, to ask for it to be removed. Throughout her journey, she faces ogres, elves, her unbearable soon-to-be step-sisters Hattie and Olive, and Prince Charmont, or Char.

A thousand times better than the movie, I have read and reread this book so many times I've lost track. In my unbiased opinion, I believe Ella Enchanted to be the best version of the Cinderella story. Ella is charismatic, spirited, and has a certain sparkle that makes the reader wish they knew her. I like that the Cinderella in this story is strong; though she may be helpless because of her curse, nothing would stop her from teaching her evil step family a lesson if she were free of it. I also liked that Ella knew the prince before the three nights at the ball.

Like Matched, by Ally Condie, Ella Enchanted takes another approach to freedom. We take our agency as an advantage. How lucky we are! We can speak and think freely.

Ella's story is a journey worth taking. The only reason I can imagine one would not like it is that the ending is rather romantic (which young readers may dislike). Other than that, I give Ella Enchanted a 10!

The School Story, by Andrew Clements

age group:8 and up

rating:8.5

Ever think about writing and publishing a book? Imagine seeing your own book on the shelves of Barnes and Noble, with the words "written by:"...you!

Natalie Nelson is twelve and has written a book so good that her best friend, Zoe, is certain that it should be published. Secretly, they make a plan to use a fake name and publish it. The plan circles around their goal to have Natalie's mom to edit her book, without her mom ever realizing who the real author is.

I am a fan of all of Andrew Clement's books, and this one is definitely my favorite. It has a depth that most kids books don't have. The reader gets to know the characters very well, and cannot help but love them. The story explores the tenderness between fathers and their daughters, and between two best friends. I experienced what people would do for those they love. "The School Story" motivated me to work on my own writing. It quietly inspires readers to reach for the stars.

My only objection to the book is in the ending. I found the writing a bit hasty in the last chapter. Throughout the book, there were so many moments with a nice mood. The ending had the same atmosphere, but it was unnecessarily rushed.

Matched, by Ally Condie

age group: 13 and up

rating:10

Your choices are made for you. What clothes you wear and what you eat are decided by the Officials. Who will you marry if you want to get married? Don't worry about it. The Society has it covered; it will choose who is best for you. 17-year-old Cassia has lived her life precisely in this way- the government, or Society makes the best decisions for everyone. Within a year of her 17th birthday, Cassia is Matched. But when she is shown her match, two faces appear on the screen: Xander, her best friend, and a flash of Ky, before the everything goes black. Lost and confused, Cassia is forced to choose one or the other, to decide for herself. The Society's answers are no longer clear- and it is not long before Cassia realizes that maybe, maybe, there is something richer than the perfectly controlled life ahead of her. "Two desires struggle within me: the desire to be safe, and the desire to know. I cannot tell which one will win(Condie 255)."

I really loved this book. It is innocent and real. Cassia's love can only be described as genuine. Ally Condie eloquently captures the true essence of it. Matched subtly drives the reader into asking their own questions about freedom and choices. Is agency worth facing the danger, the possibility of a mistake, or even unpredicted consequences? If all of our choices were made beforehand with utmost care- only to have the best option picked, would we have the courage to say "no thank you? I can do it myself?" Who would accept so much responsibility, knowing that things could go terribly wrong? Yet, who can stand aside and let someone else decide how our life is run?

I savored it the whole way through. There were so many parts where her writing was so beautiful that I marked them for my quote book, or where I felt precisely how Cassia felt: her confusion, anger, willingness, terror, rebellion, passion, everything. I connected not only to Cassia, but all of the characters. The plot was fascinating. I never felt as though it were merely a planned out plot; things were wild and unpredictable, more real life than made-up story. Like Cassia, I wanted to hold onto every moment. I almost did not want to keep reading because I wanted to preserve the few precious pages that I hadn't read yet. I wanted to stop in the middle and know that it wasn't over. Needless to say, I'm already aching for the sequel to come out.

The Host, by Stephanie Meyer

age group:13 and up

rating:8.5

Ever seen the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers? For those of you who haven't, The Host takes place after mind-and-body-stealing aliens have invaded the earth. Yet the intrigue is not what it seems. When an alien nicknamed "Wanderer" is inserted to Melanie's body, Melanie won't disappear. Instead of vanishing into nothingness when Wanderer takes over, Melanie is constantly present, doing everything she can to hide her memories and protect the last human survivors. Throughout her journey in a stolen body, Wanderer eventually finds Melanie's beloved Jared... and begins to fall in love with him as Melanie already does.
Even at the mentioning of love triangles, vampires, and Mormon authors, Stephanie Meyer is usually the first person to come to mind. Famous for the Twilight series, Stephanie Meyer's work is either instantly disregarded or gushed over. Personally, I was never an obsessive representative for "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob." I've read the series and find it an entertaining page-turner that, whether the reader plans to become truly engaged or is simply along for the ride, is difficult to put down. I felt this way tenfold when reading The Host. It was not how I imagined it at all, and I liked it more than I thought I would. I was quickly entranced. Wanderer was made real to me, and the situation she and Melanie were in was just fascinating. I was able to understand the perspectives of Melanie, Wanderer, Jared, and the entire alien and human population. The complications between the relationships were unlike any I have ever read.

As for the plot, it is thought out and well written (though she is no J.K. Rowling), and the only change I would make (SPOILER ALERT!)is to have Wanderer be given a body more suited to her needs: one that is older and stronger.

The Host is unique and gripping. I could not put it down! I was so involved that, to my family, it was as if I wasn't present. For younger readers, there is some mild language and violence that should be considered before trying it out.