The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

In an effort to prevent war, Arabella is being forced to marry an old man who she has never met before.  Seeing no other way out, Arabella (or Lia as she is known throughout the rest of the book), takes her ladies maid and runs away to start a new life far from wars, kingdoms, and being a princess.  Lia soon discovers, however, that no matter how far she runs, she cannot escape her destiny or her duty to her kingdom.

Content Notes:

The book has bad language & mild sexual content (kissing, discussions about sex, a character is an unwed mother).

Teacher Notes:

This book is not appropriate for middle school students but would be appropriate for mature Jr. High and High School students. While a little slow at the beginning, the storyline did pick up as the book went along.  This book is similar to The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.

 

The Circle: Book One of the Sidhe by Cindy Cipriano

Calum Ranson’s family is full of secrets.  Magic swirls around them, and as Calum starts to lose his abilities, he begins to worry.   When a new girl comes to town, strange things begin to happen.  Calum must decide who to trust in a battle to regain loved ones who have been lost.   

Content Notes:

No bad language or inappropriate content.

Teacher Notes:

I loved this fantasy book!  If you liked the Fablehaven books by Brandon Mull or the Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black you would like this book!

 Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgZugrFB6OE

 

The Fallout by SA Bodeen

After escaping from the Compound, Eli and his family must begin to adjust to a life that went on without them.  Eli begins to research charity organizations his father supported and uncovers a startling discover as well as a horrifying truth.  As the family adjusts, they must decide who they can trust and with people not being who they appear to be, this becomes increasingly difficult.

Content Notes:

No bad language or inappropriate content.

Teacher Notes:

This is the sequel to The Compound, which I loved!  While I liked this book a lot, I was a little disappointed in the author’s writing style.  Kids will love this book…it was just a little slow at the start! J

Drowning by Rachel Ward

After a drowning accident at a lake, Carl begins to be haunted by his brother.  But was the accident really an accident?  Carl has no memories before the lake, but as his memories return, a horrifying realization occurs and Carl must deal with consequences, and his dead brother, before it’s too late.

Content Notes:

The book has bad language, sexual content, and deals with alcoholism. 

Teacher Notes:

This book is not appropriate for middle school or junior high students.  It may be appropriate for high school students who are aware of the content.

Hidden Like Anne Frank by Marcel Prins, Peter Henk Steenhuis, & Laura Watkinson

This book is collection of true stories of 14 people who hid like Anne Frank did during World War 2.

Content Notes:

The stories are children friendly in talking about hiding during the Holocaust.    

Teacher Notes:

I found this book to be a little hard to read.  If students like The Diary of Anne Frank or if they like to learn more about the Holocaust, they would enjoy this book.  As a teacher, this book would be good to use as a whole class read aloud since each story is a self-contained story.  A similar book that I enjoyed more would be Survivors:  True Stories of Children in the Holocaust by Allan Zullo & Mara Bovsun.

 

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

A dystopian book like none other, Brandon Sanderson takes the reader on an adventure through a world ruled by Epics, regular people who one day begin to exhibit extraordinary super powers.  Watching his father die at the hand of an invincible Epic, Steelheart, David burns with a desire for revenge.  As he meets up with a band of humans who are fighting the Epics, David has an opportunity to change the face of the human race…if he can stay alive long enough to do it.

Content Notes:

The book has many fight scenes & opens with people being vaporized in a bank. 

Teacher Notes:

This book was recommended to me by my son and when I first picked it up, I did not have high hopes that it would live up to how great he said it was.  I honestly LOVED this book!  I loved the action and suspense that the book brings, as well as the twist on a dystopian society.  This is a wonderful boy book that I highly recommend!

Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sC9NtpXLH4

Similar Books:

While not exactly like this, I think if you like this book you would also like the Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans

The Selection by Kiera Cass

In a dystopian society ordered by castes, the Selection affords an opportunity to move up.  Thirty-five girls compete to become the Princess of the nation, for most a dream come true.  For America Singer, however, the Selection is an opportunity to send money home to her family and nurse the heartbreak of losing her secret love.  Can anything change her mind and change the course of her future?

Content Notes:

The book references a boy taking advantage of a girl and briefly talks about virginity.

Teacher Notes:

While there is nothing graphic in this book, I feel this book would be more appropriate for Jr. High students or mature 6^th graders.  There is not any bad language or violence, just some boy/girl relationship issues.  This book reminds me a lot of the tv show, The Bachelor.