The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

What happens when you are the son of a billionaire and the world is under nuclear attack? You hide out in a luxury bunker for 15 years until it is safe to come out again. Eli and his family have been living underground for 6 years since the attack and for that time Eli has done nothing but worry about what happened to his twin brother Eddy and his grandma that didn't make it the night of the attack. Life in the bunker is monotonous and Eli is anxious to get out. He begins to get suspicious when his father starts acting strangely and the food supply starts to get low. Why is his dad so secretive about his office, why isn't there enough food, and why doesn't anyone else know the code to get out of the compound?


A creepy book that will keep you wondering if Eli will ever make it out!

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser

You are asleep and someone wakes you up. Next thing you know you are handcuffed and put in the back of a car. You have no idea where you are going. You've been kidnapped, only these people have already been paid. By your parents. To take you away. This is the story of Garrett. His parents have sent him to "boot camp" to change him. At Lake Harmony Garrett is subjected to physical and psychological abuse to make him into the son his parents always wanted. But what if he shouldn't have been sent there?

"In 2005 more than 10,000 teens were incarcerated in boot camps, most of them against their will. " -http://www.toddstrasser.com/html/bootcamp.htm

This is a very disturbing account of what really takes place all over the U.S. and surrounding countries. Not for the weak of heart!

Beauty Shop for Rent by Laura Bowers

Abbey has a plan. She is going to be a millionaire by the time she is 35. This is the only way she can break the cycle of sadness in her family. You see, her dad left and then her mom dropped her off with her great-grandma, Granny Po, and left. Granny Po runs a struggling beauty shop and Abbey works as many hours as she can to earn money. When someone comes into town to finally rent the run down shop, Abbey is worried her days of making money may end. However, with the help of the new manager Abbey opens her eyes and heart to the world around her. That is, until her mother shows back up.


I really enjoyed this book. It has just the right combination of drama (when Abbey's mom comes back), love (the hunky yard guy!), and humor (gotta love the Gray Widows-Granny Po's funny beauty shop friends).

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

If you've ever had a person close to you die suddenly, then you will relate to this book. Cora's brother, Nate, was an angry teen. In a rush of anger he leaves and has a car accident. Cora's family is left to deal with their grief and get on with their lives. Their anger and sadness is slowly tearing apart the family and art seems to be the only thing that holds Cora together. She is starting high school, where her brother was known for his behavior, and her art class with the upperclassman is her refuge in spite of Damian, Nate's best friend who was with him the night of the accident. She soon finds herself falling for Damian as he begins to show her the brother she never got a chance to know.

This book is intense to those that are grieving. If you are not a mature reader, this may not be for you!

Kaleidoscope Eyes by Jen Bryant

Like a good treasure hunt? Lyza does. Set during the Vietnam War, this is the story of Lyza and her two friends, Malcolm and Carolann search for treasure in an unsettled time. When Lyza's family goes to clean out her grandfather's house, she finds a package with her name on it. Lyza find in this package a set of three maps of her town. With the help of a letter written to her grandfather, Lyza realizes this map will lead to a buried treasure left behind by a pirate long ago. Lyza recruits her two best friends, Malcolm and Carolann to help her find it. Will they locate the treasure and what will they do if they find it? Read to find out!

I enjoyed this book because not only is it exciting to find a buried treasure, but this book also portrays the confusion and uneasiness of the country during this time period. Malcolm's brother is drafted and sent out to dangerous places because of the color of his skin. Lyza's sister is a free-spirited, anti-war hippie. The characters give insight to younger readers about this time period.