Kip Campbell’s Gift by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

It’s back to Clover, Massachusetts and the home of the Campbell family. The Campbell’s have run the funeral home in town since 1875, but Christopher “Kip” Campbell, next in line to inherit the family business, would rather not having anything to do with the family business.

But out of all the Campbells, Kip may be the one most suited to working in a funeral home. In addition to his tasks as the outside man by taking care of the yard and directing traffic during services, Kip can also hear the voices of the newly departed. But in particular, Kip only hears the ones who have unfinished business, something that troubled them in life that they were unable to resolve. And it’s Kip’s job to pass along their messages.

The payoffs have been pretty good so far, but when the school bully’s mother suddenly passes nothing could make up for the amount of trouble that’s about to come Kip’s way. Between the new rumor that Kip “talks” to the dead and Golden’s Funeral Home trying to knock the Campbell’s out of business, making it to Halloween might be harder than Kip thought.

Second in the series, Kip Campbell’s Gift makes for a good light read. With wonderful family interaction, and the Campbell family’s obvious respect for the deceased and their families, despite the very nature of the family business the books also manage to provide very uplifting and positive stories.

Lucky by Rachel Vail

Phoebe Avery is excited about entering high school if only because she will no longer be the left out sister since her two older siblings are constantly talking about classes, new friends, and what it means to be older. But, this separation has not been all bad seeing as Phoebe has the four best friends a girl could ask for and have decided to end this chapter of their middle school lives by throwing a party that no one could forget.

The only problem is the more the five of them plan the more they want and a party that was meant to celebrate their classes achievements has snowballed into a formal affair with personalized invitations, a professional photographer, and the perfect designer dress. At first Phoebe thinks nothing of these additions, simply something else her mother will have to pay for but what happens when the money disappears? How will Phoebe not only be able to pay but also comfort her best friends about their current financial situation without throwing her entire family under the bus?

Vail’s first installment in the Avery sister series brings readers back to what matters most. It is clear that Phoebe’s current blunder has caused a certain level of embarrassment, especially when checks begin to bounce. At the same time this change in status allows Phoebe to not only look inside herself but also her friends. Why has she never noticed the way she gets bossed around or how they tend to make fun of others that do not fit their perfect mold? Does money truly matter most and if so what does it mean about their bond? An interesting take on what it means to fit and whether or not Phoebe will be able to make the right decision in the end. A read that middle and high schoolers can both enjoy.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

So, since it is October I thought it only appropriate to pick up a ghost story and Deep and Dark and Dangerous is one in the total sense. The story centers on a thirteen-year-old girl by the name of Ali who has been asked to spend the summer with her aunt and six-year-old cousin along the coast of Maine. Ali cannot wait to go and although it takes a lot of convincing (her mother is extremely protective) the family finally decides that a little bit of freedom won’t be such a bad thing.

At first everything seems simply perfect. Ali enjoys being near the water, soaking in sunshine, living in a cabin, and most importantly being away from home. But, everything changes when they come across a young girl by the name of Sissy. She is quite cruel/a know it all and of course Ali’s younger cousin takes to her like a bee to honey. Ali does not trust Sissy and does her best to track down her whereabouts in order gain some kind of an upper hand but when it leads to multiple dead ends she gets suspicious.

When she tries to explain Sissy and her crass actions to her aunt in hope that she can reel her cousin in things take an eerie turn. For some reason Ali’s aunt becomes fearful of Sissy and their interactions. At times she seems distant and does not believe that Sissy even exists but the more Ali tries to push Sissy away the more she pops up at unexpected moments knowing things about Ali and her family that could never be true!

Mary Downing Hahn’s ghost story is creepy and intriguing all at once. Who is this girl? How come she is so cruel? And, why does she have the ability to rub Ali and her family the wrong way? A true testament to whether or not we can cover up our past. A perfect middle school read for those who like to be spooked but not scared stiff.

The Other Girl by Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller continues Molly McGarry’s prep school mind reading journey in The Other Girl and readers will pick up right where they left off with Gideon and Molly as the newest hot and heavy prep school couple. In this installment Molly and Gideon both believe that they are meant to be but Molly’s strange ability that allows her to read Gideon’s mind has her second guessing everything. After all, she has no difficulties keeping tabs on him and does everything in her power to keep him satisfied, but during an intimate moment Gideon’s mind races to campuses beauty Pilar Benitez-Jones and Molly is crushed. How can Gideon only have eyes for her when they are constantly wondering? Is mental cheating just as bad as physical cheating? And, how can she expect them to have a long term relationship if these little mind slips keep happening?

So, Molly does what any other self respecting girl would do and dumps Gideon on the spot without any kind of explanation because who can really explain how and why they can hear their boyfriend’s thoughts? Of course, Gideon is confused/heartbroken and decides to listen to his best friends. They say the best cure for getting over a girl is heading straight into the arms of someone new! And, sure enough that girl becomes Pilar Benitez-Jones.

Now, Molly has to not only deal with her broken heart but also her ex-boyfriend’s thoughts as he spends more and more time with Pilar and it is so not pretty. This combination makes it extremely difficult to move forward but things get even worse when her Gideon connection transfers to Pilar leaving her lost and lonely without Gideon’s thoughts and going insane listening to Pilar’s brain counting crunches!

This second book will not disappoint Gideon Rayburn fans seeing as the usual antics, crass situations, and stereotypical classmates return. Readers will also love Molly’s sarcastic banter and will appreciate the idea of not giving up your total self in order to bring someone else into your life. The only thing that bothered me about the book was that Molly’s ability to read people’s minds was never fully explained and therefore I did not fully buy into the idea of being scientifically connected to someone’s thoughts for a meaningfully purpose BUT other than that an enjoyable and fun. This book is meant for mature readers.

Immortal by Gillian Shields

Evie Johnson is suddenly set adrift from everything she knows when her beloved grandmother, Frankie, suddenly falls ill and has to be placed in a home. With her father deployed in active duty with the military and no other family to take her in, Evie is sent to Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, a boarding school high in the bleak moors.

As the newest scholarship student at the inhospitable school, Evie is an immediate target for the snobbish Celeste and her flock of followers. Feeling completely isolated, Evie starts leaving the dorm late at night to meet with the dark and mysterious Sebastian, a boy she met on her way to the school. Sebastian is always a perfect gentleman at their late night rendezvous, but as her meetings with the older boy continue, Evie finds things around her changing in strange ways. Evie begins to see the shadowy image of a girl in Victorian era clothing that looks remarkably like her, and that girl seems to be trying to warn her… about Sebastian.

The first book in what promises to be a series, Immortal is an excellent edition to the supernatural romance playing field. The one drawback to the book is that occasionally the modern era characters feel a bit two dimensional and contradictory to their established personalities, but the pace of the story and many of the other elements help balance the book, making for an enjoyable read.

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

As an infant Modo was part of a traveling freak show. Deformed and monstrous looking, he was left locked in a little cage. That is until the mysterious gentleman Mr. Socrates found and bought the tiny boy when Modo used his talent to keep Mr. Socrates from leaving. Modo was born with a chameleon-like ability to physically change the shape of his malformed face and body. For the next thirteen years Modo lived in three rooms at one of Mr. Socrates homes, rooms with no windows or mirrors, with only Mrs. Finchley and occasionally Tharpa for company and as teachers. And for those thirteen years Modo has followed a strict training regime of traditional education and various combat styles, as well has learning to use his special talent.

Now fourteen, Modo is taken to London and promptly left to fend for himself, Mr. Socrates proclaiming that if Modo is going to be of any use to him, that Modo will have to prove he can survive the harsh streets of London. And Modo does, even as he has to struggle to hide his disfigured form, by starting a sort of private investigative service. But things begin to change again when Mr. Socrates sends another of his teenage agents, Octavia Milkweed, to bring Modo into the Permanent Association, a secret network that works to protect the country from threats within. And Modo’s first assignment as an agent might be a little more than the teen can handle when it turns out the Clockwork Guild has been building a little something deep in the underground of London.

For this first book in this new series, Slade brings together elements from classics like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Frankenstein into a new steampunk world, where ‘mad’ scientists working on the fringes of society have created mechanical marvels both in miniature and on a much larger scale, creations that exceed the known technology of the time. The series looks to be very promising, with plenty of uncomplicated adventure and action, but with deeper ideas just under the surface.

Physik by Angie Sage

Things have just about gotten back to normal at the Castle, that is, if you can ignore Septimus’ new – and very hungry – dragon Spit Fyre. But when Silas Heap unSeals a forgotten attic room and finds a lost portrait of an old Queen, Etheldredda, things quickly turn from good to bad. A terrible sicknesse begins to sweep the Castle, leaving victim after victim in its wake, and no one has been able to find a cause or a cure. As the city descends into panic, the fall and winter traders from up north become suspect, many people begin to believe that the sicknesse is spread by rats and that the infected rats sneaked in with the traders. And the newest characters to the series, Northern Trader Snorri Snorrelssen and her guard cat/panther Ullr, are faced with increasingly hostile residents.

Septimus has been doing his best to help out, despite having to study for some very important practical exams. The ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia insists that the solution to the rampant sicknesse will be found through magik, but Septimus has his doubts and begins to research the old and little used skill of physik and his most skilled practitioner, a man named Marcellus Pye, who lived 500 years ago. But Queen Etheldredda; who with the finding of her portrait; has been let loose, has quite the scheme up her sleeves for the unsuspecting Septimus Heap. She’s arranged for her now ancient son Marcellus, who took a potion of everlasting life – though it was missing the youth portion – to drag Septimus through one of his mirrors into the past. Stuck 500 years in the past, it’s up to Jenna, Nicko, and Snorri to find a way to rescue Septimus and save the Castle from Queen Etheldredda’s evil plans.

This third book in the Septimus Heap series is a little more confusing that the previous two. Mostly for the periodic jumps in time, but Sage handles it reasonably well by not getting bogged down in too much detail about how the mirrors actually work. Despite the confusing moments, the book is an excellent continuation of the series and fans will still find themselves glued to every page.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Famous and powerful author Walter Dean Myers allows readers to take a unique look at sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon who finds himself in a whole lot of trouble when he is put on trail with neighborhood bad boy James King for felony murder. Steve’s story is told through his own past and present experiences in a journal that features personal entries, photos, and a mock screenplay that documents the trial’s ups and downs since he is a movie buff.

Even though Steve is not directly responsible for the store owner’s death, meaning he did not pull the trigger he was indirectly involved by premeditating the robbery with James King and acting as a lookout the day of the heist. Steve was under the impression that guns/brutal force were not a part of this equation but when the store owner pulled out a gun of his own this once easy heist goes awfully wrong.

Here, readers are asked to play lawyer, judge, and jury trying to see whether or not Steve is guilty of this crime and if so what the repercussions of his actions should be. Myers writing reads like a television courtroom scene and the more we learn about Steve and his fears, relationships, and how he grew up the more we are confused about whether or not he should be seen as guilty. A great book for those who not only want to learn more about the legal system and it’s many flaws but also the different environments people are brought up in and as a result the difficult decisions they face.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen continues her exploration of teens facing not only difficult feats but also harsh lifestyles in Lock and Key. In this book high school senior Ruby seems more like the parent since her mother cannot keep down a job and tends to go missing days at a time. But, this time things are different since her mother has turned up for over a week. Realizing that she is under eighteen and that the next step would be foster care Ruby does her best to hide the fact that she is on her own but eventually her landlords discover the truth and is now forced to live with her long lost sister Cora who the family completely lost contact with when she headed to college. Something Ruby has still not forgiven her for.

But, moving in with her sister more like a complete strange is not as easy as it seems. Ruby sees that her sister has built a life for herself between her wonderful husband, expensive toys, and huge house. She hates her sister for leaving her behind and feels weird disturbing her life especially since she was never part of the equation. It is clear that Ruby does not fit into this new posh lifestyle and decides that she will slide on by until she turns eighteen so that she will be legally able to live on her own. But, the more she is brought into this new world the more confused she becomes. Why is Cora and her new husband being so kind, how come she won’t discuss their mother, and why does she always get so upset when they talk about her past? Could Ruby possibly not have the total truth…and if so what really happened to their family when her sister headed to school?

Lock and Key is a gripping novel about starting over and the courage it takes to not only look in the past but also to push through the lies and discover the truth. Readers will be drawn to Ruby and her predicament and will sympathize with her reasons for pushing others away. Sarah Dessen has not only created another believable character but also immerses readers into a total lifestyle. Displaying both Ruby’s worlds and the people in them so clearly that by the time book comes to a resolution you will still want to keep reading to see what happens to them the years that follow. A wonderful addition for high school readers.

The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood

In The Year of the Hangman Gary Blackwood gives historical fiction enthusiasts something to think about when he creates a world where the Patriots did not win against the British and as a result fled to New Orleans which is still under French control. The year is 1777 and Creighton Brown is born and bred British through and through. He has spent most of his life moving from one finishing school to the next but enjoys spending most of his time in Taverns playing cards and loosing bets. What Creighton does not know is that his mother has had enough of his shameful ways and has arranged a ship to bring him to South Carolina in hope that his uncle Colonel Gower will show him what it means to be an honorable man.

Creighton is far from happy about this arrangement especially when he hears that his uncle is moving to Florida to take charge of uncharted territory. But, on their way south their boat is captured by a group of American rebels that drop them in New Orleans. Creighton tells the rebels that he is a British slave in hope gaining inside information to free his uncle. What he does not count on is living with Benjamin Franklin and learning about the wrong doings that the British and Americans have both done in the name of freedom. The more Creighton learns about the rebels and their wants the more he not only sympathizes with their cause but begins to think outside of his British box.

The entire premise of this novel…the “what if” factor is intriguing. History buffs will enjoy meeting American heroes like Franklin to see how they have resisted British control as well as their thoughts about the future. At times I found the book to drag on in the sense that there is not too much action happening when you are working in Franklin’s printing press but at the same time this is what makes the book so believable. Daily life was repetitive, which was probably one of the many reasons why Creighton enjoyed escaping it in the local taverns. An interesting read for middle school students and up that are looking for a historical twist.