Topal, Allan.  Spy Dance.  New York:  Penguin Putnam, 2001.

When CIA operative Greg Nielson goes underground he hopes beyond hope that he leaves his life of lies and violence behind.  Soon though, he must blow his cover when his innocent step daughter is taken hostage.

Entertaining and full of intrigue, Spy Dance is a decent read with enough plot twists to keep a reader interested.  My only complaints are that I found some of the characters were to static to develop any attachment to, and the bad guys followed the typical “bad guy” stereotype.

Wizner, Jake.  Spanking Shakespeare.  New York:  Random House, 2007.

Shakespeare is sure that his parents were drunk when they chose his name, but unbeknown to them at the time, they named him aptly.  In his senior year at high school, seriously unpopular Shakespeare Shapiro has the chance to live up to his namesake by writing the best senior memoir, a requirement for graduation.  Chronicling one embarrassing moment after another, Shakespeare lays it out for future readers to laugh, cringe, and squirm with “this could have been me” moments.

Funny and sweet, Spanking Shakespeare was a well written, slightly edgy, and laugh out loud look at one boys journey through adolescence with all that it can bring.

Grisham, John.  The Associate.  New York:  Dell, 2009.

Kyle McAvoy has almost always played by the rules.  Only one incident in his past haunts him, and when the video of the incident surfaces years later, Kyle has only one option – to cooperate with the criminals threatening to release the video. and agree to spy for them.   Soon he finds himself an associate at one of the biggest law firms in New York City; spying for people he can’t even name, and trying to stay one step ahead of a secret that could kill him.

It has been years since I’ve read a John Grisham novel.  His writing style has the ability to hook readers right from the first paragragh, and The Associate is no different.  However, I must admit that I only really enjoyed the first half of the book.  I found the second half to drag on, and by the end, I was disappointed.  The characters, so good in the beginning, lose their charm as the book progresses, and I found the plot to completly fissle by the end.  Not impressed Mr. Grisham!

Kamara, Mariatu, and Susan McClelland.  The Bite of the Mango.  Buffalo:  Annick Press, 2008.

Mariatu Kamara has gone through more tests of courage and heartache than most.  Growing up in Sierra Leone, Mariatu’s journey to Canada started the day that rebels savagely cut of her hands.  Searching for help, Mariatu ends up in Freetown, where she meets people that help her reach beyond her pain to find hope in new beginnings.

Written in a story format, The Bite of the Mango is a compelling read.  The suffering and trauma that some children and young adults experience in other areas of the world is astounding.  The Bite of the Mango certainly opened my eyes.

Clare, Cassandra.  City of Bones.  Toronto:  Simon Pulse, 2007.

Clary Fray has always considered herself normal.  Raised by her mother, and told that her father died before she was born, Clary never thought to question what her mother told her.  Soon, however, everything she has ever known comes in to question when she witnesses strange teenagers commit murder right before her eyes – and no one else can see them. Pulled into New York City’s underworld of demons and demon killers, Clary must try to find out what her mother has hidden from her for her entire life.

Witty and with a fresh take on fantasy, City of Bones offers readers a fast paced plot in a book seriously hard to put down!

Resau, Laura.  Red Glass.  New York:  Delacorte, 2009.

Sophie, a bit of a hypochondriac,  has always been an only child.  When her family takes in Pablo, a six year old survivor of an illegal border crossing that took the life of both of his parents, she suddenly finds that she likes being an older sister.  After a year, Pablo begins to talk and reveals the name of his village in Mexico.  Soon Sophie’s parents arrange for Pablo to visit what is left of his family; where he must decide whether to stay with Sophie’s family or to move back to his village permanently.

A nice little coming of age story.  Resau creates a plausible plot with quirky characters.  She blends adventure with the right amount of emotional trauma to create a believability in both her characters and their reactions to their surroundings.  Very readable!

Alexie, Sherman.  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2007.

Dreaming is as close as Junior thinks he can get to a better life.  When his geometry teacher convinces him that the road to a better life starts by going to an all white, middle class, school in a neighbouring town, Junior is unsure.

Charming and seriously funny,  Alexie hooks his readers with his poignant style and his mixture of serious issues and witty writing.  His portrayal of Junior is so convincing it is hard to believe that True Diary is his first venture into YA fiction.  Filled with memorable quotes and quirky illustrations,(provided by Ellen Forney)The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian deserves all the praise given.

Hosseini, Khaled.  A Thousand Splendid Suns.  Toronto:  Penguin, 2007.

Two women; one motherless and a bastard child of a rich man, the other loved by her educated father but invisible to her mother, will soon find a commonality neither of them could have imagined.

Heartbreakingly beautiful, Hosseini will move you to tears with his clear description of a war torn country through the eyes of two women.  Indescribably absorbing and powerful, A Thousand Splendid Suns is an unforgettable read.

Setterfield, Diane.  The Thirteenth Tale.  N.p.:  Anchor, 2007.

When Margaret Lea receives a letter from renowned author Vida Winter, she is flabbergasted.  Not only has she met the author, she has never even read any of her novels.  Strictly a fan of “the classics,” Margaret never attempted to read any contemporary fiction at all.  Soon though, Margaret realizes that it is not fiction behind the reason Vida Winter sent for her, but fact.  Illusive descriptions of Vida Winters life have been gathered by many reporters over the years, but it is Lea that Winters chooses to write the truth of her past – proving that sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.

The Thirteenth Tale is aptly described as a love letter to reading.  Vivid descriptions bring the landscape of England to life.  One can almost feel the wind lashing the rain into the windows as the mists settle in over the moors.  Setterfield’s characters are realistically human, deeply flawed, but with the ability to love.  Page after page of relishing mystery, suspenseful plot, and enough foreshadowing to keep you guessing, The Thirteenth Tale is a book above many.

Kneece, Mark and Julie Collins-Rousseau.  Trailers.  NBM:  New York, 2005.

Trailers is about, well, trailers.  Also, murder, deception, love, drugs, family, and the fight of one teenage boy who would probably give anything to be from a “normal” family.

When Josh comes home to find his mother’s boyfriend murdered by her hand, he must try to hide the body from the police and his three younger siblings.  Trailers mixes a strange blend of harsh life with that of a budding romance, as Josh’s friend Michelle tries to understand his reality, one filled with expletives, hard people, and a family trying to keep it all together.