Matt and his father don't get along. Neither one gets the other. But he reluctantly agrees to go on a dig in Mexico right after an earthquake. 30 days. There are two teens young men's stories being told simultaneously; Matt's modern tale while on the dig, discovering himself, and re-evaluating his faith. And Teom's tale from the Book of Mormon time, who is trying to save his family in a time of severe corruption, murder and thievery, while maintaining his faith. Although, not of Mormon faith, this story was captivating. I was refreshed, learning details of another faith, and it was exciting. It also gave a great peak into the world of archeology. 

I just read a harrowing story of a teenager, Delaney, who falls through the ice on a lake in Maine.  This story is relevant and could certainly happen.  A miracle, a mystery, a monster, she really doesn't know.  She is now more than she was and so much less at the same time.  11 min. is a long time to be under water!  Can she find herself again, before she pushes everyone away or does something stupid?  Heavy story and a little language, but, I couldn't put it down.  Read the book FRACTURE, by Megan Miranda and published by Bloomsbury.  Great new YA fiction.

I listened to the audio of Jack Gantos' book DEAD END IN NORVELT, read by the author himself.  This was funny, and historical.  I loved Miss Volker, the spit-fire old lady who Jack helps write obituaries for the last remaining Norvelters.  Kids will empathize with the summer with no fun and being grounded!  Jack Gantos did a terrific reading!  You'll laugh out loud!

While traveling on vacation I downloaded Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick on my Kindle Touch.  It was an incredible...sad, harsh and real story about a young boy caught right in the middle of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.  This powerful story of the will to live and what might have to be done, to make that a reality.  What would you do?  Hopefully, none of us will ever have to find that out!  Someone asked me why this book about this subject was written for teens.  My response was, "because kids need to know about the awful, real things that happen, so that maybe we can try to prevent them from happening again.  Being aware and knowing is part of that.

Read the book Winterling by Sarah Prineas...author of The Magic Thief series.  A little girl lives on the edge in the woods.  She accidentally helps someone and discovers he is from another realm.  Something is wrong there, and she can feel that she needs to help.  She is connected to the earth and can feel and sense things.  Good and evil, a little bit of magic and herbs.  An easy read that kids will enjoy. 

Divergent by Veronica Roth is a book reccommended to my by my 13 year old son, who got it from one of his friends.  This distopian novel, set in Chicago in the not so distant future, had me hooked.  This was a book I could not put down!  I stayed up until 2:00am just to finish it!  The characters, the setting, it could so happen to us!  Highly reccommended for those who liked the Hunger Games or The Maze Runner trilogies.  You don't have to wait for the sequel...it has just been released and is called INSURGENT!  Yet more choices for Tris and Four. 


An adventure set in Africa when the main character and his sister are kidnapped!  Their father is the an ambassador and there is a lot of corruption involved.  The outlaw accused is not at all what he seems, in fact, he is so much more and Jake is doing his best, just to survive and keep his little sister alive.  This is non-stop, action and intrigue, and just when you think you have it all figured out, you don't!