Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice (adapted for young adults) by Bryan Stevenson Autobiography Nonfiction Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) A lawyer and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson tells us the stories and experiences he goes through raising awareness to the social injustices of many he had as clients. I was absolutely devastated by the stories of the imprisoned who Bryan fought for. For older teens … Read more
Entwined by Heather Dixon Fantasy Romance Supernatural Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) A retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” fairy tale, but with more romance and suspense. It is about twelve princesses who are trying to find a place to dance after their father, the king, tells them they’re not allowed to. They find their way into a magical garden and discover the mysterious man, “Keeper,” who lives there. … Read more
The Last to Die by Kelly Garrett Mystery Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) A teenage girl and her friend create a “game” to steal and break into each other’s houses that can be replaced. The teenage girl, Harper Jacobs, deals with a lot of family struggles and uses these break-ins as a coping mechanism. After overusing these criminal actions, someone shows up dead. I really enjoyed how well this book … Read more
Fever The Chemical Garden Trilogy #2 by Lauren DeStefano Dystopian Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Teen * * * Stars (Pretty good) Rhine and Gabriel made their triumphant escape in the previous book, but they didn’t bother to plan much further than that. Now, if they want to find Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan, they’ll have to make their way to New York somehow, and there are plenty of dangers in between. When they do finally reach … Read more
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Older teen/adult * * * * Stars (Great!) Melanie attends classes with a number of other little kids, but she’s special. They all are in some respects, but Melanie’s intelligence, determination, and self-control set her apart. As the story unfolds, told from different characters’ perspectives, readers discover that the children are different in other ways, too, ways that require them to be … Read more
The Obsession by Jesse Q. Squanto Realistic Fiction Suspense Thriller Teen * * * Stars (Pretty good) Logan is a stalker. Delilah is the object of his obsession. Both attend an exclusive boarding school, though Delilah is a day student. When Logan sets up a camera outside her house to keep an eye on Delilah, he captures some unexpected footage, which he later uses to blackmail Delilah into being his girlfriend. But Delilah is sick … Read more
That Weekend by Kara Thomas Mystery Suspense Thriller Teen Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book will keep you on edge and make you keep guessing throughout the whole book. One weekend a group of three friends, Claire, Kat, and Jesse go to a lake house when some mysterious things happen. Claire is mad at Kat when they go to sleep the first night and when they wake up they all … Read more
The Last Graduate Scholomance #2 by Naomi Novik Fantasy Suspense Thriller Adult/teen * * * * Stars (Great!) In this sequel to “A Deadly Education,” El comes into her true power as the school throws more and more magical monsters and impossible tasks her way. She begins to suspect that it is training her up for a specific purpose, which, fortunately or unfortunately aligns with her own goals – to get EVERYONE out. Safely. All … Read more
The Companion by Katie Alender Mystery Suspense Thriller Teen * * * Stars (Pretty good) After a terrible car accident leaves Margot an orphan, she is taken in by a wealthy family who knew her father. Thinking she has found a new home, Margot discovers that her role is different than she expected. The Suttons’ hospitality is conditional. They expect Margot to be a companion to their teenage daughter, Agatha, who has a mysterious illness … Read more
Ash and Quill Great Library #3 by Rachel Caine Fantasy Suspense Thriller Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) #3 in the Great Library series – Jess and his friends narrowly avoid capture by the Library’s High Garda, but land themselves in the hands of a whole city (Philadelphia) of book burners. When their attempts to convince the Burners to aid them fail, they come up with another escape plan, but at a terrible cost … Read more