Percy Jackson

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

By: Rick Riordan



Annotation:
Young boy discovers that the father he never knew is some kick-butt Greek God and that now he is in grave danger.

Summary:

In the first awesome entry into the Percy Jackson series, we are introduced to an average everyday kid who just happens to to find himself running for his life against a real life Minotaur, and this is just in the first thirty pages.

Riordan creates a realistic world in which greek Mythology in just a part of a much larger society. As society has had a cultural shift in which the United States has become more of the center of culture, Mount Olympus has
also relocated to the top of the Empire State building.

Children will appreciate the real world voice that Riordan creates with Percy along with his sense of adventure. Armed only with his trust pen/sword Riptide and a few good friends he will have to save the world before he is punished by a vindictive thunder and lightning weilding god for crimes he hasn't committed.

Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods
By: Melissa De La Cruz


302p
Hyperion,

ISBN-10: 142310126X
ISBN-13: 978-1423101260


Annotation:
Select teenagers from some of New York City's wealthiest and most socially prominent families learn a startling secret about their bloodlines.


Summary:
A new trend of vampire novels are appearing in bookstores all across the country. Melissa De La Cruz's are perhaps one of the most interesting series on the stands. De La Cruz has melded the Gossip Girl Generation with the vampire genre, creating a combination that leaves you hungry for more.

The popular students at the New York's Duchesne School have a little secret, they are more beautiful, strong and intelligent than even they are aware of. When the students start to display their true tendencies, a power struggle is set to begin. A hipper band of vamps will be hard to find than the ones in Blue Bloods, not only sure you want to become a vampire, you are sure you want to run with Schuyler Van Alen and her posse.

Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely
By Melissa Marr

352p
HarperCollins

ISBN-10: 0061214671
ISBN-13: 978-0061214677

Annotation:
High school junior Aislinn and her grandmother have followed strict rules all their lives to hide their ability to see faeries because faeries don't like it when mortals can see them. Now she is being stalked by one of their most powerful and must rely on her wits to sort everything out

Summary:

In Marr’s first novel we are introduced to a faerie realm right under our nose. A world where the supernatural blend in with every day people and thrive on wreaking havoc completely unaware by us humans. Some people posses Sight or the ability to see these creatures, one of these people is Aislinn, a high school junior from a Pittsburgh suburb. Her entire life she has tried to blend in, and has been successful until now. Now the Faeries are becoming restless and a few of them are not being hindered by the tools that have kept them at bay for so long. To top it off, she thinks that one of them just saw her and caught her looking back.

Keenan the Summer King has lived for centuries with his full power bound by his evil mother the Winter Queen until he can find his true love, his Summer Queen and his newest quandary just happens to be Aislinn. However, Aislinn has plans of her own in the love department, namely pierced and brooding Seth.

Similar in style as Meyer’s Twilight series (smart girl, sees/meets strange boy, one pursues the other, danger), this book will keep the attention of all those teens looking for a safe replacement. Not nearly as enjoyable as Holly Black's Tithe series, but definitely a fun and fluffy alternative.

Marr’s heroine is a strong and a woman who is able to manage on her wits and luck. She does not lose her independent spirit and that is refreshing, however that is its only saving grace.

Ink Exchange

Ink Exchange

By: Melissa Marr

352p
Harper Collin

ISBN-10: 0061214701
ISBN-13: 978-0061214707

Annotation:
Seventeen-year-old Leslie wants a tattoo as a way of reclaiming control of herself and her body, but the eerie image she selects draws her into the dangerous Dark Court of the fairies where she draws on inner strength to make a horrible choice


Summary:
In her second novel, Marr further examines the fairy realm. We are introduced to the character of Leslie as she attempts to deal with the an abusive and distant father, a drug addicted brother and friends whom seem stranger than usual, all why trying to keep a job and good grades so that she can escape to college and never return.

In addition to fleeing Leslie has only one other desire, and that is to get the perfect tattoo, and after months of searching she finally decides on that of a symbol with wings. This symbol happens to be the mark of the Fairy King of the Dark Court and through it he can feed himself and his followers on her emotions, its only side effect is that it leaves the victim not only under his control but also completely devoid of any emotion, positive or negative. This forces Leslie to make a decision, to risk feeling the pain and anguish she has dealt with for her entire life or feel nothing.

Teens have fallen in love with Marr's writing style. With the third installment of this series being released late April. This novel is perfect for the Twilight fans still hungry for more of the fantastical but having already devoured Meyer's series.