Goodbye, Rebel Blue by Shelley Coriell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Summary - Rebecca "Rebel" Blue lives her life according to her own rules which include blue hair steaks, bare feet and never depending on anyone else. All is going fine until she serves detention with one of the "cupcake" (cute, popular, do-good) girls at school. As they complete their detention assignment of writing their bucket lists (things they want to do before they die) the two girls discuss fate and how your choices in life determine the person you become. When the "cupcake" dies in a tragic accident, As Rebel sets out to complete the dead girl's bucket list and starts to get to know Nate, she begins to wonder if the her choices are right for her and if maybe she really can (and should) depend on the people around her.

Review - I really enjoyed this one. Goodbye, Rebel Blue was a quick and engaging read from the beginning. I found myself pulling for Rebel to find her place and keep her individuality at the same time. The story moved quickly and actually had a "warm fuzzy" ending. Other book reviews recommend this to students who liked 13 Reasons Why and I totally agree. I will be recommending this to my students as soon as it is available.

This book is due out on October 1, 2013. I received the ARC from NetGalley.



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Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I got this signed ARC at the ALA conference and couldn't wait to read. Simone Elkeles is one of my favorite authors and Wild Cards is another great story. No "bad boys in gangs" in this story, but the 2 main characters have real issues to deal with. Yes, there is football in this story, but it is not a "Football" book. It is about 2 kids who happen to play football but find that life has thrown them curves that they just might survive IF hey can learn to trust one another. I can't wait to read the rest of this series...it promises to be GREAT!

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The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just before her high school graduation, Wren starts to wonder if the path she is on is her own, or the one that her parents want. As she starts making decisions with her own happiness in mind rather than being a "good girl" and pleasing her parents, she finds that not all paths are smooth and that sometimes it is more important to be happy (and in love) than to satisfy everyone else.

This book will be in bookstores on August 30, 2013 but I got a signed ARC at the ALA convention in June.

A little to sexy for the Rosie list, but my more mature HS students will love it.

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Inferno by Dan Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great addition to the Robert Langdon series. Of course, I plan on tripping to Italy next summer, so I spent a lot of time "googling" the places and painting in the book. This one was much better than book 3 in the series.

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Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When things get rough...Taylor runs away. This habit has worked for her in the past but now her family is spending the last few months of her father's life together at their lake house and she can't run fast enough or far enough to get away. Plus, she has to face the mess she left behind the last time she was at the lake. Throughout the summer Taylor will learn that maybe running isn't the answer and that standing still is the hardest thing she will ever do.

A little long, but worth every minute. Our kids will love it, but WARNING..be prepared with tissues...this one will make you cry.

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Dare You To by Katie McGarry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

She is a "bad girl" with a reputation for trouble, he is a "good boy" with a penchant for taking dares. When they meet and must actually deal with one another, the sparks will fly. Things are not always as they seem in this second in the Pushing the Limits series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I will recommend this to my students and look forward to the next book Crash Into You in this series due out in November 2013.

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Quarantine: The Saints by Lex Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 2 of the Quarantine series starts with a new group of kids in the school. What starts as a rescue mission quickly turns into something else and now the groups established in The Loners have a whole new group to contend with. I received this ARC from NetGalley and look forward to the next book in the series.

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Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every teens nightmare...being locked in school with no escape. When a viral outbreak kills everyone above the age of 18, the government locks down the school and the students have to figure out how to survive. This was a good start to a great story. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

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Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great second book in the Ashfall series. Mike Mullin's website says that the final book in the trilogy (Sunrise) will be out in Spring 2014. Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Received this galley through First Flights (the Penguin Debut Author program). This engaging historical fiction follows the story of an aspiring female astronomer and the love of her life (a man she will love forever and will never be able to have). My students will really like this one, but it will take some convincing to get them to try it.

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Rosie party May 2011

Greetings everyone. We will use this BLOG to discuss books found in the Southwestern High School Library. 

If you would like to place book reviews on the SWHSLibrary blog, either see Miss Northern in the HS library or post a comment below (include your email address).