Another great title from the Caudill 2015 nominee list!

The False Prince (part 1 of a trilogy) by Jennifer Nielsen is set in an alternate history middle ages. Four teenage orphans living in the realm of Carthya are picked up by a nobleman named Conner. Conner forces the boys into a brutal competition for the chance to impersonate the heir to the realm, long lost Prince Jaron. Political intrigue, unforeseen alliances, deadly combat and lies and truths all mix to make an exceptionally well written thriller full of surprises.
All three parts of the series are available in the LTC: The Runaway King and The Shadow Throne.

Just when you thought there might not be more great dystopia series out there...

Slated by Teri Terry is the first part of a dystopia series set in not so distant future England. In this world, young people deemed by the government to be a threat as terrorists are "slated". They have their memories erased and are then sent to live with a new family as adopted children. During this period they are closely watched for any behavior that does not conform to the strict rules set for them. 16 year old Kyla is slated. But shadows of memories haunt her dreams and influence her behavior in ways that slated kids normally do not experience. Try as she might to fit into her new life, bits of her past keep coming to find her building an ever more sinister picture of what is really going on. Are the anti-government terrorists really terrorists? Do the government police, called Lorders, really have everyones safety as their priority? And what about those LEVO bracelets all slated kids have to wear? Are they really there to help monitor their emotional levels or to monitor everything about them? Think FitBit gone really wrong! This is a true non-stop thriller! You won't want to miss Part II - Fractured and the finale Shattered! All these fabulous titles are in your very own Sears LTC.

Two super additions for our dystopia fans!

Cinder is Part 1 of the 4 part Lunar Chronicles series. Author Marissa Meyer takes the Cinderella story to a whole new place twisting and tweaking all the familiar elements. Set in a post apocalyptic world, Cinder, part cyborg and gifted mechanic, tries to survive life with her evil step-mother and shallow step-sisters. Enter Prince Kai, heir to the throne of what was once China, a deadly plague, and the cruel and ruthless Lunar inhabitants. Cinder, whose mysterious past is about to catch up with her, finds herself the unlikely hero of the Earth's fate. The sequel is "Scarlet", a twist on Little Red Riding Hood that continues the story while introducing new characters. For all the Hunger Game/Divergent fans this series is for you!!


Elsie Chapman comes through with a terrific sequel to her dystopia novel Dualed. In Divided, West Grayer, now is a complete but still plagued by her Striker past. Boyfriend, Chord, also complete is trying to live a normal life knowing full well that West will find trouble somewhere. It comes this time as an offer by the Board (sinister, secretive leadership of city-state Kersh) that West cannot refuse. It will involve resuming being a striker but this time to eliminate the alts of children of the Board. Struggling with her conscience and her love for Chord, West tries to meet the challenge by herself armed with a secret new weapon. In this installment you will learn more about the history of Kersh, the hierarchy of the Board and the some teasers about the Surround. Action packed the story begs for one more entry in the series to answer the burning questions about West, Chord, the Board and the future.

Veronica Roth and Allegiant (Part 3 of Divergent)

I had the pleasure to meet author Veronica Roth at The Book Stall in Winnetka a few weeks ago. I wanted to share with you some of the interesting things that came up during this great opportunity.
For instance the Divergent series has been translated into 42 languages.
Veronica Roth uses more technology now than ever to help her be consistent with timelines and events in her stories.
She was really happy with the script that was written for the film (OPENS IN MARCH 2014) and thought the casting was perfect.
The film shot for 90 days of location shooting here in Chicago so there will lots to enjoy in the movie for all of us here in the area.
She says the whole book-into-a-movie experience has really changed so much of her life.
When Allegiant came out she had to sign 1000's of copies.

Part III of this terrific dystopia trilogy is full of all the action, twists and turns, surprises and disclosures that you have come to expect from this author.  If you have not read Allegiant don't read any social media or blogs about it, if you do not want the story spoiled for you. If you have read it then please do not spoil it for anyone else. It really deserves to be read with all the surprises intact. Enjoy the author at her blog (she puts in Spoiler Alerts!) http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/

Dualed by Elsie Chapman - Another twist on the Dystopia genre.

For all the Hunger Games, Matched and Divergent fans out there, try Dualed!

Join West Grayer (15 year old orphan) as she tries to survive her city-kingdom of Kersh's harsh rules of survival. Since the world fell into constant warfare, Kersh has survived as a walled kingdom on the west coast of the US.  Everyone there has a genetically identical twin born of completely different parents. At an appointed time each twin or "alt" has a month to find and eliminate the other. Who ever remains alive is deemed worthy of becoming a member of the protective Kersh army as an adult. It's the ultimate survival-of-the-fittest story set in a tough city, short on resources and heavy on danger. 
Clearly, number one in a series, I found myself wanting to know what happened to get the world to this point; how did Kersh get started and who are the mysterious Board that run everything behind the scenes. Hints at all these things are present and you know there has to be a rebellion coming at some point.  I really liked the pace and atmosphere of this dark action story.  I hope some of my questions will be satisfied in the next installments when they arrive.

The Scorpio Races by Stiefvater (2011 Printz Honor Medal winner)

Different cover from one
in the LTC

This is one of those stories that suck you in slowly. You might not even be sure you like it but you have to know what is going to happen next. In the end, you are totally caught up in the world of the island of Thisby and the annual Scorpio Races.

Puck Connolly, first female to ever enter the races, has to race to keep her home. Sean Kendrick, four time winner and talented horse trainer, has to race to keep the horse that gives him purpose. So is this some horse/race story set in the north Atlantic? Not exactly since the horses in the races are mythical Capall Uisce (pronounced CAPple ISHka). They come out of the sea looking like huge race horses only they eat flesh and are almost impossible to train. If you can race one they are the finest mounts in the world, just don't get eaten while you try. 

If you let the lyrical, rich prose carry you along, the island, the people and the horses will come vividly to life. The story is about family, bonds, purpose, loyalty and ultimately love. If you are a horse person (such as myself) you will be moved by the land and water equines in the story. You might need a tissue. Also, please be warned that the film rights have been purchased so the movie is in the planning stages.

Ally Condie wraps up her series with "Reached"!

Reached is Part III of Ally Condie's Matched Trilogy. Cassia, Xander and Ky have grown up a great deal in the last two books. The final installment brings the three matched friends together again in a race against time. The Society has collapsed, a victim of their own controls and the inside work of the Rebellion. The plague originally engineered to eliminate "Aberrations" and "Anomalies", perceived enemies of the Society's stability, has now out-stripped medical resources and is killing at an alarming rate. The Rebellion led by an appointed "Pilot" as leader is trying to take over by delivering life saving serum to all sectors of the population. Cassia, Ky and Xander are part of the Rebellion trying to save lives and find a true cure. Cassia as a data analyst, Xander as a medic and Ky as a skilled pilot. Friends and family, loyalties and betrayals mark this complex but satisfying end to the series. There are no easy answers for the three young protagonists but their will to live and love drives them forward.  A very strong addition to the popular dystopian novels genre, readers of Matched and Crossed will be entertained by the action and challenged to think about society, community and family.

Underwater fantasy with a western feel - Caudill 2013

Dark Life by Kat Falls is a fast paced mix of old West frontier life and futuristic life under the ocean. 15 year old Ty is the first human born and raised sub-sea. His family is part of group of "settlers" establishing a ranching community in Benthic Territory.  Life above the ocean is difficult. Land is scarce due to the rising ocean levels. Most people live jammed in crowded cities with few resources. Gemma, also 15, is a "topsider"; a ward of the state called the Commonwealth.  She has runaway to sub-sea to find her missing older brother who holds the key to her independence. Gemma and Ty soon run into each other. Their unlikely pairing sets them on a journey involving dangerous undersea gangs, corrupt government officials, and hard working undersea ranchers.  The author succeeds in creating a believable underwater world of homesteads, transportation devices and creatures. Part 2, available soon in the LTC, is called High Tide.

Part II - Insurgent (Divergent Trilogy) by Veronica Roth

Readers who chewed through Divergent will not be disappointed by this sequel. Tris and Four's (Tobias) story picks up where the last one ended with the aftermath of the deadly simulation attack still set in dystopian Chicago.  Plenty of action both physical and emotional develops with all the characters as members of the five factions trade secrets, intelligence, power structure and lives to meet their own goals. Twist, turns and blurred lines of loyalty and trust make it hard to predict what will happen next. Insurgent is a very well written, intelligent thriller filled with fierce but believable young people caught up in the collapse of their society. Which "Faction" do you see yourself defending? Or are you part of the "Factionless"?!
NB: Part III is due out in Fall 2013 and is as yet unnamed.

Crossed - #2 of Matched by Ally Condie

For all the Hunger Games fans out there, here is another excellent dystopian society series full of well realized characters and thought provoking action. If Matched set the stage for Cassia, Ky and Xander, Crossed is a strong, compelling second act.  Told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Cassia and Ky, the story traces their attempts to reconnect since leaving the Society. Readers anxious for answers will get some but not others. The Carving and the Outer Provinces are finally reached. New characters enter the story pulling the action in surprising and unexpected ways.  The Rising, or Rebellion, has new light shed on it forcing the reader to question how and why individuals make the decisions they make. Well written, fast action in some spots, lyrical and slower in others, the pace mirrors the young protagonists struggling with their mixed emotions about their world and their places in it. The final installment, Reached, is tentatively due out in November. Be sure to visit the author's website at http://www.allysoncondie.com for a peak at the excellent cover for Reached as well as some interesting insights about the colors and titles of the cover art. Yes a books' cover does make a difference!

New fantasy series: The Crowfield Curse

The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh is #1 in a new series. Part historical fiction part fantasy this first installment is atmospheric, dark, rich in detail and gripping. Set in 1387 England, 14 year old orphan William Paynel is trying to manage a life as a servant at Crowfield Abbey. At the very bottom of the pecking order, William is still grateful to have a roof over his head and meals, even meager ones. While taking care of the monks' pigs he encounters a strange creature caught in a trap. With little fear he saves the creature and from that point on his life takes some wild and frightening turns that  involve very old secrets, a very long feud and possibly a dead angel.
Readers will drawn into the amazing secret world of the forest, the hard life at the abbey in middle ages Britain and William himself, who is more than even he knows.

Caudill 2012 - Powerless by Matthew Cody

I am going to kick-off this year's Caudill nominees with a modern fantasy! Powerless is a story about being the "new kid" in junior high but just not any junior high! Meet Daniel Corrigan who had to move from Philadelphia to small town Noble's Green because his grandmother is very ill. It doesn't take long for Daniel to decide that something is up in this town with the kids under the age of 13! A big Sherlock Holmes fan, Daniel puts his detecting abilities to work. Why is Noble's Green called The Safest Town on Earth? What happened years ago when a meteor struck the orphanage in town? Did it have some lasting effect on the children who survived? How do you explain the near tragic accidents that don't quite happen somehow? Daniel soon learns about the secret but that's just the beginning of what is really going on. A deft combination of fantasy, realism, action and mystery, this thought provoking story of friendship, bravery and fitting in will keep you involved right to the end of the story!