TeenZone Blog

How far away is the future? Is it a century from now? Is it a decade from now? Is it tomorrow? Is it today!? The Starry Rift : Tales of New Tomorrows edited by Jonathan Strahan takes a look at the various shapes the future will assume through the eyes of teens. Are you a gamer, a musician, a sports fiend or just anxious to find out what the future holds? Then there are stories about someone just like you in this collection!

You’ll find favorite authors like Scott Westerfeld, Garth Nix and Neil Gaiman amongst these pages and perhaps discover new favorites as well. What happens when a flu pandemic forces a young American soccer player to flee to South America with his father just in time for the return of mysterious otherworldly visitors? What if you found out that your actions in an MMORPG had tangible real world results? What would you do if your sister started channeling trans-dimensional deities because she used too much self-tanner? Read this book and find out!!

Olus, gentle Akkan god of the winds, is in love with Kezi, a mortal who weaves rugs and loves to dance. There is just one thing standing in the way of their happy ending–in about a month, Kezi will be sacrificed to the god, Admat. In order to save Kezi, both she and Olus must face a series trials that will test their faith and courage. If they succeed, Kezi will become immortal like Olus and they can be together for eternity. If they fail, Kezi must die or her family will suffer.

The story is about more than the challenges the couple faces on the road to true love. It’s about facing your fears, seeing your true inner self, and so much more. If you’re looking for a good blend of romance, adventure, and suspense, I highly recommend Gail Carson Levine’s Ever. Fans of Ella enchanted, the Princess Tales series, and Fairest will definitely want to give this one a try.

The Looking Glass Wars is based on Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. In this story instead of going down the rabbit hole, Princess Alyss Heart comes UP to our world to escape her evil aunt, Redd Rose Heart until she’s strong enough to take back her throne. Returning to Wonderland won’t be easy, especially since she’s convinced herself that her previous life was just a dream. Is Alyss strong enough to defeat Redd?

The Looking Glass Wars is jam-packed with action and cool gadgets. Deadly playing card soldiers and a shape-shifting feline assassin are out to get Alyss. It’s a good thing she has people like Hatter Madigan (whose top hat can be flattened into a lethal throwing weapon) on her side. This book sucked me in from the first chapter. I definitely can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel, Seeing Redd!

A note to fellow future fans: I found this great interview with author Frank Beddor at Comic World News. I couldn’t believed he was a stunt double in one of my all time favorite flicks! You’ll have to read the article to find out more.

If you like reading creepy, gruesome horror stories, you definitely have to pick up The last apprentice series by Joseph Delaney. In this series, Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son, begins working for the village spook. Being the village spook doesn’t mean that Tom goes around pretending to be a ghost. He actually does the opposite–protects others from witches, boggarts, and other creatures of the “Dark.” So far I’ve listened to every book in the series on CD, but I definitely want to pick up the actual books–I hear there are pictures that will get your spine tingling.

In Attack of the fiend the latest book in the series, Tom’s family is being held hostage by a clan of malevolent witches determined to raise the Fiend (otherwise known as THE devil). In order to save them, Tom will have to face a legendary assassin witch who enjoys snipping her victims to pieces and a hooved creature that can not only see the future, but also loves the taste of blood. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart! I’m listening to it on CD right now and I’ve had to stop a couple of times because it was just getting too stressful! I can’t wait to see how it ends…I just hope I can make it until then.

“Are you a gifted child looking for Special Opportunities?” Answering a newspaper ad that asks this very question sends Reynie on a path that begins with passing several mind-bending tests and ends with his recruitment into a very special group of children. His fellow recruits include a shy guy with a photographic memory, an ex-circus performer who never goes anywhere without her trusty bucket of stuff, and a girl who is very contrary. Their mission? To go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened and find out who has hijacked the airwaves to send subliminal messages to the world. It is sure to take all of their skill, daring, ingenuity, and bravery. Will they accomplish their task? I’m about halfway through the book and I can’t wait to find out!

If you are a fan of books like Chasing Vermeer, The Westing game or the Series of unfortunate events, you have to got to pick up The mysterious Benedict society!