Title: Liesl & Po
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: October 4, 2011
Genre: MG, Paranormal, Fantasy
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

Liesl's young, but she's already had a difficult life. Losing her father at a tender young age, she's forced by her stepmother to spend her days locked in a cramped attic alone. She wants nothing more than to see her father one last time and to tell him that she loves him, but she's all alone...until she meets Po. Po is unlike anyone she's ever met before. He's just a boy, but he's a ghost and Liesl dares to feel that glimmer of hope that she might be able to get a message to her father. But when she and Po finally dare to venture beyond the attic doors, one major mistake by the mysterious boy across the street is about to send their adventure in a whole new direction.

Honestly, I have a bit of a thing for middle grade fiction. Do I read a lot of it? Not really, but that's simply because I'm picky about those I choose to read. Liesl & Po had a premise that captivated me from the start. Reminiscent of the dark and twisting tales from the Brothers Grimm, Liesl & Po sends the reader on a fantastic journey into worlds beyond our own. Veteran author, Lauren Oliver, has tackled a new genre with ease, providing an adventurous book teeming with larger than life characters, a seriously delicious plot and an overriding theme of love, family and friends.

Have you ever read a book with divergent plot arcs that somehow slowly manage to weave together throughout the story into one utterly spellbinding conclusion? If not, Liesl & Po will truly be a treat for you. The beauty of the story was that each plot art was fleshed out, giving you access to Liesl, Po and Will from start to finish. Because there was so much action and so much happening in Liesl & Po, it would have been easy to lose the reader in mundane details, but the story balanced the issue with ease, giving you bits and pieces and stringing you along. The characters, too, were fresh and engaging. Perfectly age-appropriate, Liesl is a bundle of love and innocence. Likewise, Po complements her with his honesty and compassion, and Will balances the two with touches of heartfelt humour. Together, the companionship between the characters was pure and unadulterated - giving the reader a true middle grade experience. Furthermore, Liesl & Po features superb writing. Sweet and simple, barring superfluous details and excess prose. Liesl & Po takes a minimalist approach, heightens it with a soaring plot and gives the reader everything they wanted and more. The only things I would have changed were some elements that I found a bit too predictable, and there were a small few questions that lingered at the end, which I wish could have been resolved.

All in all though, Liesl & Po was a heartwarming and fantastic addition to the market. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of MG fiction, especially those who enjoy paranormal and adventure stories. This book is also appropriate for both boys and girls.

I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: All the Things You Are
Author: Courtney Sheinmel
Publisher: S&S Children's
Published: June 14, 2011
Genre: YA/MG, Contemps
Pages: 256
Source: S&S Galley Grab

Carly Wheeler lives a charmed life. Her mother is a stylist for the soap opera Lovelock Falls, she lives in a nice house, and goes to an excellent private school. But when her mom is arrested and charged with embezzlement, everything starts to unravel.

There are shocking stories about her mother's crimes in the local newspaper. Carly's friends start avoiding her. And her stepfather starts worrying about money. How can Carly put her life back together when it feels like she's missing all the pieces?

Carly's grown up with it all. She's never wanted for anything, and she's the envy of all the girls at her private school, but when she hears a whisper one day about her mother, she had no idea it was all about to fall apart. When the whisper becomes a raging torrent of press, anger and confusion, Carly isn't sure where her place is anymore. Her friends don't want her, her mother's actions confuse her, and she just wants everything to go back to normal. Can she grow up and adapt, or will Carly succumb to the confusion?

I don't read a lot of MG, and All the Things You Are was marketed as YA, but I feel I should point out that Carly is more of a tween than a teen. That said, I think it works in both age groups. Now that that's out of the way, this was my first read from author Courtney Sheinmel, and I was intrigued to see her take on contemporary fiction. She has a wonderful writing voice. The story flows well, and it is extremely realistic. Opting for a simplistic and minimalist approach to Carly's voice, the author lends a sense of heartbreak and reality that is uncluttered, unpolluted and completely pure. All the Things You Are is a story of both heartbreak and growing up, giving the reader the best of both worlds.

I will say, however, that I'm not sure All the Things You Are is the most original story when remarking on the plot, alone. The overall premise of riches to rags has been done time and again, and when you read a book that strikes you in that realm, other reads tend to pale in comparison. In my case, I found myself comparing this a lot Dark Song by Gail Giles - a read that completely blew me away. It is important for me to mention though that All the Things You Are takes a decidedly more delicate approach to Carly's story. Rather than angst, we have sorrow, and rather than defiance, we have a young girl that is trying to cope with her new life in the best way she knows how. Carly grows up in All the Things We Are, restoring the heart and soul of the story without being overly cliche or hitting you over the head with sweetness which, in the end, makes up for what I thought was a less-than-original plot. Plus, the author's execution, including the writing voice, tangibility of the characters and overall theme made for a powerful read.

All in all, I think All the Things You Are is a strong addition to the contemporary market today, and I'm definitely a fan of the author's writing style now. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of both YA and MG, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this eARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses
Author: Ty Drago
Publisher: Jabberwocky
Published: April 1, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 480
Source: Publisher

"On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'"

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers-a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses.

Will wakes up one Wednesday, and it's just like every other day until he sees his neighbor, then his principal, then his teachers have all become a part of the living dead. Is it a new thing? Yes, and no. Will's one of the special few who can see these zombies among the living, making him an Undertaker with a special destiny. Suddenly, in addition to his twelve-year-old angst, pre-teen life, and all the glory that comes with it, Will is sent along a path with others like him because his gift dictates it. He might be a part of humanity's last line of resistance between the living and the dead, but that also means that his life will never be the same again.

Remember when vampires became popular? Then werewolves, angels and witches followed. Well, zombies have been on the train lately with shows like The Walking Dead and Zombieland popularizing the lore. The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses, however, does what few books and films say they will do - it takes the original idea, turns it on its tail and makes it into something entirely new. Author Ty Drago clearly had some clever mojo going when he wrote this one because he combined two seemingly polar opposite tales into a single, fully-functioning novel that's suspenseful, age-appropriate and seriously witty.

The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses truly is one of the freshest MG reads that I've got my hands on in a while. Will is a great protagonist. He's charming and smart, but he acts his age. Yes, there were a few moments where he slipped and I wondered why he suddenly sounded more mature, but overall, he felt entirely real. Will's friend, Tom, also consistently evolved throughout the book, and I felt their progression and character changes, although mostly subtle, were in sync with the plot. Speaking of the plot...wow. Talk about a fresh idea! I'm not going to spoil it for anyone, but let's just say that the zombies in The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses are nothing like what you read before. In fact, they might not be from this planet. Ponder that one.

All in all, The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses was a fun, fast-paced and action packed read. It sounds like a long book, but it reads well, and I finished it quickly, all the while wanting a sequel. I give it a firm 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend this to both YA and MG audiences. I also think reluctant readers would enjoy this quick plot and fun premise.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Angel in My Pocket
Author: Ilene Cooper
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: March 15, 2011
Genre: MG, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

When Bette finds an angel coin among the money collected in a carwash, she puts it in her pocket and forgets about it. But things start to change, especially once Gabby, a mysterious and kind new neighbor, moves into Bette’s Chicago building.

Suddenly, Bette is able to face some big losses—her mother’s recent death; her sister’s departure for college—and move forward. And once the angel coin falls into the hands of three other kids in Bette’s class, their lives change, too. Soon, these two girls and two boys will be connected in ways that open them up to unlikely friendships and new ways to believe in themselves. Here is an entirely new twist on the angel trend.

Bette is lost. Since her mother’s death, she’s lost her will to sing, and she feels like she’s in a long tunnel in the dark with no true way out. Then one day, Bette remembers the unique coin she once found with an angel on it, and she sees a little light in her life again. Things begin to turn around and her life starts getting back on track. Then, we meet Joe, an angry classmate who steals her coin, and his luck begins to change, too. The cycle continues and it becomes apparent that the coin is connecting them in some sweet, magical way, and they’re finding their way back to their futures.

I don’t read too many middle-grade novels because the voices are usually too plain or too dumbed down at my age. However, when I read the premise of Angel in My Pocket, I was intrigued by the sweet and simplistic nature of the story. Ilene Cooper has created the perfect MG voice in Bette and presented four great characters that are honest and heartfelt throughout the story. Enriched with an overall theme of finding oneself, believing in the power to change and the possibility of luck, magic and friendship, Angel in My Pocket is a light, sweet and gentle but powerful read.

What really resonated with Angel in My Pocket was the undercurrent of morals and consistent, steady theme of inner strength. Bette, though a bit younger than most of the characters I read, was a great MC with a fully developed voice and story line. She had me rooting for her throughout. Even Joe, snide and unhappy, had me cheering him on. Gabby, Bette’s kind neighbor, was also powerful, and added depth and intrigue to the story. I don’t feel like I got to know Vivi or Andy, the fraternal twins, as well as the other characters, but I’m sure they’ll still resonate for other readers. I do believe it’s a strong, character and theme-driven book, as they fuel the plot.

All in all, Angel in My Pocket is a bright and positive read for all ages – even those who don’t normally read middle grade fiction. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of lower YA or Middle Grade fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction with strong morals and themes.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Trapped
Author: Michael Northrop
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: January 1, 2011
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade
Pages: 224
Source: Publisher

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall.

But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

It’s an ordinary day of school at Tattawa Regional High School, but then the snow starts. At first, it’s just a light storm, but the nor’easter rolls in quickly, giving Scotty Weems and his friends hope that they’ll get out of school after all. Then the snow picks up even more though, and they’ve stayed behind to work on a go-kart project…but they stayed behind too long. The roads are packed, the plows can’t move, and their little town is starting to shut down. With seven kids in the high school, their teacher gone to get help, and snow piling even higher. The kids are braced to face the night at school, but what happens when one night turns to two, and two turns to three? Can they survive in the biggest storm their town has ever seen?

Let's be honest...I was sold based on the cover and premise, alone, of Trapped. I’m a sucker for survival stories, too, and when they involve snow, kids braving the elements, and a battle to stay alive, I’m fairly certain you can’t go wrong with that. Michael Northrop is the acclaimed author of the novel, Gentlemen, which I’ve yet to read, but I’ve heard rave reviews of it, so I was excited to try his YA novel, Trapped. His tone is exceptionally conversational – almost as though the MC is actually speaking with the reader. It’s easily accessible, and extremely easy to follow.

I have to be honest though…Trapped rather disappointed me. I was expecting more of a thriller with gripping scenes and an epic struggle for survival. What I got instead, was a very young teen narrator that, yes, has an easy-to-read voice, but it was almost too easy, if you know what I mean. It felt dumbed down, to be brutally honest. Yes, I know kids say “like” every other word, but I don’t want to read it every word on every single page. I’m also aware that everyone says crass things every now and again, but describing someone crossing themselves as “spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch” and using terms like “turtling” is not really my cup of tea. The tension did begin to build about halfway through the story, and it finished better than it started, which was a redeeming factor for Trapped.

All in all, I can’t say that Trapped was my new favourite read, though I wish I could say it was. Perhaps it will mesh better with a younger audience than it did for me. I give it a 2.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to a younger YA and MG audience, especially those who enjoy contemporary and realistic fiction. It’s also great for a male audience with a male MC.