Where she went by Gayle Forman

I enjoy when I find a book with the lead character who is a boy.  This story tells the tale of a rock star that has had it with being famous.  At first you just think he is having a break down, a lindsey Lohan moment maybe.  However as the story progresses the reader discovers that Mia, Adam's long lost love, isn't just the girl he never got over, but also has a story of her own.  I had points that I just wanted to scream for them to tell eachother how they felt, but as you now they took their time opening up.  The writing was smooth and kept me reading. 

The Declaration by Gemma Malley

This book follows the premise that many books these days do.  The world has found the secret to living forever but have also discovered that having children would cause over population.  By sixteen people are asked to sign the declaration and they begin to take longevity drugs.  At sixteen they are also promising to not have children.  Parents can discontinue taking the drugs in order to have a child but if they choose to continue to take the drugs the children are taken away to a home and called Surplus.  While in the home they are convinced that they are bad and sucking the resources from those that deserve to live.  They are trained as slaves and treated poorly.  Ana, the main character has beleived all she has been taught and is just happy to have the opportunity to pay back the dept of her parents.  Convinced that they were evil and working against nature for having her, Ana hates them.  When Peter appears and tells her he knows her parents and convinces her all she knows are lies, Ana begins to believe that there is a chance for her to have a life.  As the story progresses characters are connected like dots until the past is unraveled and the future layed out in front of the characters.  I look forward to finding the sequel and following these characters.

Easy by Tammara Webber

I simply loved this book.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I read the title and I am still not sure how it exactly fits but I will forgive them for that.  Jackie, who wants to be called Jaqueline, starts the story shortly after being dumped my her long time boyfriend.  After attending a party she is almost raped and luckly she is rescued by a bystandard who we find out much later is not such an innocent bystandard.  Each charcter has a unique story in the overall novel and character development is wonderful.  I personally fell in love with Lucas the male lead.  Who we discover is not only her choice of rebound guys but is secretly her econ tutor.  Don't worry that isn't a spoiler.  Although she isn't aware of it in the beginning, the reader is. If I had any complaint it would be that I think the author could have gone into more detail as to the aftermath someone may feel when they are so close to being physically attacked.  The entire story is like a multitude of threads all floating individually and as the book comes to an end they all weave togther into a beautiful scarf. 

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirch

I got this book from my bonus points on Scholastic Book orders and was happily surprised.  The book grabs you from the beginning.  You step right into the action of a world after China unleashed a plague on Norht America.  I like the way that the author touches on political views lightly throughout the book but does not point fingers.  Simply refers to the fact that we don't want to continue to make the same mistakes as we begin to rebuild the world.  Stephan is our main character.  He seeks refuge in an old gated community that has developed into a little town that is trying hard to continue life as it use to be.  Stephan is a scavenger and has missed out on the "normal" they have.  Befriended by Jenny, a Chinese refugee, Stephan and her not only travel on a struggle as where they fit in the world as it is now but also how they fit into eachothers lives.  I recommend this book to all ages.  It is middle grade and up.

Mortal Instruments: City of Souls by Cassandra Clare

How I love these books!  I finished this book with mixed feelings.  On one hand I wanted to see it all end with a neat and tidy bow, happily ever after, but then oh how I wanted there to be loose ends so I would know she is writing more.  And I beleive that there will be more!  The story is picked up right after the previous book and takes on a ride to ride Jace and figure out how he and Sebastian aka Jonathon escaped. Sebastian and Kyle's characters are developed more as well as Alec and Magnus.  Jace was not himself in theis book and I missed his quick wit, although Simon tried to pick it up.  A lot goes on this time around and as characters are added it gets tough to follow who is who and who is doing what but I LOVE following each of them on thier journey.  I can not recommend this series more than I already have.  Once you read the first one you will be hooked for the long hall!

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

Another YA about the termoil of chooseing between two boys.  These boys however turn out to be best friends and cousins.  I enjoyed this light read.  The character development was good and I did very much become attached to the main character of Ash and the bad boy of Beau.  The only part that I am hesitant to recommend is the redudant mention of how she was a "good girl" but really was "bad" on the inside. I think that the author could have delved deeper into her feelings and used stronger adjectives to explain why she felt the way she did.  A lot of social complication could have been played out with her being a preachers daughter and high expectations.  It kind of reminded me of Footloose, in a very basic way, of course dancing wasn't a part of it.  Overall it has some twists and turns that kept me reading and was a quick and fun read for sitting in the sun on my porch.

On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

I found this book highlighted in many magazines and on my amazon account and it looked interesting.  I was immediatley into the stranded on a desert island idea, as I am a Survivor fan.  I really liked watch them trying to survive alone and with limited knowledge.  Obviously, being from Chicago, they did not spend their weekends watching Survivor Man or anyother NatGeo show.  I thought I might fare better.  The real draw to this book was the fact the the characters were very different, in that the 30 year old teacher was hired to tutor the 16 year old boy for the summer.  The love interest between the two was very gradual and although it makes you wonder, deep down I thought....I would have totally gone there as well.  They were on the island for three years so it all ended up being age appropriate.  The one item that kind of picked at the back of my brain was the boy had been in remission for Luekemia.  It wasn't dwelled on or discussed much in the book after the initial introduction.  i worried through the book, and the trailer even said that they worried the cancer would return while they were on the island, but it wasn't really a story thread that continued through the book..I have to recommend this book as a really good summer read.