Best Teen & Young Adult Historical Romance eBooks
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of. Gatlin. has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. Ethan Wate is struggling to hide his apathy for his high school "in" crowd in small town Gatlin, South Carolina, until he meets the determinedly "out" Lena Duchannes, the girl of his dreams (literally--she has been in his nightmares for months). Beautiful Creatures is a delicious southern Gothic that charms you from the first page, drawing you into a dark world of magic and mystery until you emerge gasping and blinking, wondering what happened to the last few hours (and how many more you're willing to give up). To tell too much of the plot would spoil the thrill of discovery, and believe me, you will want to uncover the secrets of this richly imagined dark fantasy on your own. -- Daphne Durham Amazon Exclusive Interview with Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Authors of Beautiful Creatures. Margie: I think we were friends for so long before we were writing partners that there was an unusual amount of trust from the start. Margie: We save our big fights for the important things, like the lack of ice in my house or how cold our office is. And why none of my YouTube videos are as popular as the one of Kami's three-fingered typing…okay, that one is understandable, given the page count for "Beautiful Creatures." Kami: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, "A Good Man is Hard to Find & Other Stories" by Flannery O'Connor, "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury and "The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice. Susan Cooper and Diana Wynne Jones made me love fantasy, and my favorite poets are Emily Dickinson (at Amherst College, I even lived on her street) and Stevie Smith. Kami: Looking back, we wrote it sort of like the serialized fiction of Charles Dickens, turning in pages to our teen readers every week. Kami: When we were getting texts in the middle of the night from teens demanding more pages, we knew we had to finish. Kami: I have a huge stack, but here are ones at the top: "Mama Dip's Kitchen," a cookbook by Mildred Council, "The Demon's Lexicon" by Sarah Rees Brennan, "Shadowed Summer" by Saundra Mitchell, "Rampant" by Diana Peterfreund, and an Advanced Reader Copy of "Sisters Red" by Jackson Pearce. Margie: I have Robin McKinley's "Beauty," Maggie Stiefvater's "Ballad," Kristen Cashore's "Fire," Libba Bray's "Going Bovine," and "Everything Is Fine" by AnnDee Ellis. Grade 7 Up—Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore, plans to escape his small Southern town as soon as he can. Life has been difficult since his mother died; his father, a writer, has withdrawn into his study. In the Gothic tradition of Anne Rice, the authors evoke a dark, supernatural world in a seemingly simple town obsessed with Civil War reenactments and deeply loyal to its Confederate past. The intensity of Ethan and Lena's need to be together is palpable, the detailed descriptions create a vivid, authentic world, and the allure of this story is the power of love. Give this to fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight (Little, Brown, 2005) or HBO's "True Blood" series and they will devour all 600-plus pages of this teen Gothic romance.— Amy J. Chow, The Brearley School, New York City Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book has all the hallmarks of teen literature (the lighthearted romance and ease of reading chief among them) with the advantage of characters that are believable and react normally to their circumstances. Most of the tension in the book is artificial, as it is clear almost from the start that the authority figures around both Ethan and Lena know the entirety of the Plot (or relevant parts of it) and withhold it for whatever reason, ultimately boiling the entire climax down to a case of the actors not having enough information. Truth is that everything I mentioned is pretty much staple for this sort of story, and I imagine that stepping away from some of these tropes would add a level of complexity that could go beyond the scope of a teen/young adult fantasy novel."
"I felt like the first fifty pages were really heavy handed in describing the setting and the town and lacked anything in the way of real character development, but once I slogged through the start, I was pleasantly surprised at how seamlessly I fell into the action. I was sort of burned out on paranormal worlds and the characters within them, but I was pleasantly surprised at the complexity of the Caster world and really enjoyed all of the intricate details woven throughout the story."
"The store was so accurate about living in the south and how small towns act yet it wasn't overwhelming in the story."
"I feel like the overall plot is your standard teen paranormal romance between a mortal and a magical being, with all the obstacles they must overcome to be together. The depth of the life of Casters (the people with magic powers) is very interesting, and I'm sure there's more to learn in the next book. The only reason I didn't rate it higher was because I'm not the target audience and I feel like if I was 16 or so, I might have done less eye rolling at the stereotypical "teens who are deeply in love forever" moments."
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. After learning the Convent’s wily warfare and womanly arts, and being apprenticed to Sister Serafina (poisons mistress and Convent healer), 17-year-old Ismae is sent to the high court of Brittany, ostensibly as the cousin (aka mistress) of the Breton noble Duval—but, in truth, she is there as a spy. LaFevers has written a dark, sophisticated novel true to the fairy-tale conventions of castles, high courts, and good versus evil, and spiced with poison potions; violent (and sometimes merciful) assassinations; subtle seductions; and gentle, perfect love.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book has been beautifully written with rich historical detail and lush scenery but the story-line isn’t particularly engaging. The main heroine, Ismae, is 17 years-old and after escaping a forced marriage at 14 has been living in the convent of St Mortain where she has been trained to be an assassin. There was a moment when Ismae realises she had fallen in love with the male hero and I had to re-read the paragraph to make sure I had understood it. It’s like Ms LaFevers suddenly realised the two hadn’t gotten together yet and so she declared them in love without worrying about any build up."
"This book follows a young girl named Ismae, who is an outcast, and unwanted in her town. I can not express how much I enjoyed this book, these characters, the story, and the world building."
"After a life of mistreatment at the hands of her father and an arranged marriage to the worst possible man at her village, Ismae finds solace among the nun's of the convent of St. Mortain. Soon enough Ismae finds herself right in the middle of court, where treason and deceit are making it hard for Anne to be crowned Duchess. He is Gavriel Duval, intense, angry or annoyed half the time, and with impeccable manners that only serve to unbalance Ismae. Lafevers weaves mythology, history, and fantasy into the incredible world of Grave Mercy in a way that left me completely enthralled."
"Well balanced in whatever Robin LaFevers was seeking to achieve in the moment, whether building tension or draping Brittany in a cool mist, dabbling in well-conceived fantasy lore or throwing chess pieces and power players upon a parquet floor for a star-studded pavane, Grave Mercy was an absolute page-turner, but it was the initial characterization of Ismae Rienne that took me by the hand and pulled me along into her life, to join her story."
Saved by a rebel force she’d only ever heard rumors about, Rema finds herself in a forbidden place. Or will she ascend to the throne, taking on the responsibility of an entire kingdom? But when an Emperion assassin arrives on Greenwood Island, Darmik knows he doesn’t have very long to find her. Amber from The Wonderings of One Person:RED is an outstanding sequel to The Key!Angelle from The Cajon Book Lover: This is an amazing series full of twists, turns, lies, deception, love, and family.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The story picks up exactly where it was left in The Key, and it continues to build and intertwine the fates of all in the kingdom. While standing with the noose around her neck, she locks eyes with the man she thought loved her – Darmik. Darmik cannot bear the thought of his love being killed, especially at the hands of his cruel and hateful brother, Lennek. Captain, an Emperion assassin has arrived and is working with Lennek to find Rema and eliminate any threat by her and the rebel forces. It is obvious that he is losing favor in the eyes of those in charge, and is having his own personal struggle with what he should do and to whom he should pledge his allegiance. They grow as people and begin to develop perspective, all while trying to figure out where they fit as a whole, and as individuals. The interplay between them is superbly written by Ms. Davis, and very rewarding as the reader to watch unfold. Even given the age of the characters and the mature nature of the circumstances they find themselves, they handle themselves believably."
"I guess once I've read Red Queen (Victoria Ayard) and Thorn of Roses series (WHICH WERE AWESOME) the writing in this book was obvious & made no sense in some chapters (Don't want to spoil it for those who haven't) read it."
"No matter what time of night you concluded your enjoyment of The Key, Book 1, you will need to download this book just to quell your book hangover. She still hasn’t figured out the rest of the codes, but she will not stop until she learns what it all means. He loves her and knows the King (his father) will stop at nothing to aid Prince Lennek from getting his retribution for Prince Darmik and Rema’s love. Download the next book immediately for conclusion is definatly a must read!!!"
Best Teen & Young Adult Australian Geography & Cultures Fiction eBooks
A 2012 Michael L. Printz Honor. Book Charlie Bucktin, a bookish thirteen year old, is startled one summer night by an urgent knock on his bedroom window. Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , April 2011: "Silvey’s sure-footed, evocative prose, intelligent humor, and careful plot structuring may well ensure this Aussie import lasting status." Starred Review, The Horn Book Magazine , May/June 2011: "The mood and atmosphere of the 1960s small-town Australian setting is perfectly realized—suspenseful, menacing, and claustrophobic—with issues of race and class boiling just below the surface." Starred Review, School Library Journal , June 2011: "Silvey is a master of wit and words, spinning a coming-of-age tale told through the mind of a young Holden Caulfield."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Charlie longs to tell him best friend, Vietnamese Jeffrey Lu, who is hated by the town louts, who call him "Cong" and dispite his prowess as a cricketer, dont allow him to be included in their games. When Laura goes missing, the eccentric hermit, Jack Lionel gets the blame and the police immediately assume Jasper knows something about it."
"Adolescence, coming of age, sexuality, racism, domestic abuse, incest, infidelity, and violence are explored on personal, family, community and national levels."
"In that sense "Jasper Jones" Captures the heart of many good adolescent fiction, where we not only see events through the eyes of the young protagonist but rely on him to make more sensible and just decisions than the adults."
"(i'm permissive when it comes to books, so be forewarned.)."
"Charlie ends up in the center of the town's unraveling when he promises his classmate, Jasper, he will keep a horrible secret about something Jasper has discovered - a secret that is the inciting event for dragging all of the town's deplorable secrets out in the open. The story has a gripping opening that leads the reader to believe Jasper Jones is a mystery, and it is, partly. But when the Charlie and Jasper finally step up to solve the mystery, it brings surprise twists and surprise ending. Like To Kill A Mockingbird, Jasper Jones is foremost a coming of age story."
"This is a story for young adults, but as a grandmother I found it so insightful and it certainly gave me an understanding of how young minds work - how sensitive they are, but also their resilience."
Best Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance eBooks
But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. Caroline introduces Sam to the Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. ["While the beginning is slow and requires some suspension of disbelief, the climax and resolution are resounding enough to rise above any shadows of doubt": SLJ 6/15 review of the Hyperion book. - Booklist "A brilliant and moving story about findingyour voice, the power of words, and true friendship. I couldn't put it down" - Elizabeth Eulberg, Author of The Lonely Hearts Club "Brilliant, brave, andbeautiful." - Kathleen Caldwell, A Great Good Place for Books "This tender novel shows how powerful and helpful the brain can be under stress without being clinical or detached. - Melanie Koss, Professor of Young Adult Literature, NorthernIllinois University"Romantic, unpredictable, relatable, and sovery enjoyable."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I truly enjoyed this book and it's story line I wasn't sure what to expect since the main character is dealing with a mental illness."
"I am a reader and record for our local library, and I liked this book so much when I recorded it that I ordered it for my granddaughter."
"I totally got the whole concept of her keeping her craziness to herself and not letting anyone know her thoughts. It's a great book to understand the disorder and walk in her shoes as she battles her own thoughts."
"Through poetry, and her new friend Caroline, Sam finally breaks free of the 'Crazy 8' and is able to meet new people more accepting of her."
"This book....this book made me feel a lot of things I rarely feel when I read. It's rare for a book to have a few characters you could relate to."
"So many parts of this hit me right in the feels, and there was a bit towards the end that gave me goosebumps all over my body when I was reading."
"I was, therefore, greatly surprised when I actually opened it the other day and found a completely different and wonderful story of a teenaged girl, struggling with not only the normal challenges of being 16, but some special ones as well."
"Great characterization, I learned a lot about a disorder I knew little about, I enjoyed a cute love story in the process, and lastly, I LOVED the twist."
Best Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction & Dystopian Romance eBooks
This first book in Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy is the novel the inspired the major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet. Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series, Divergent and its sequels, Insurgent and Allegiant , are the gripping story of a dystopian world transformed by courage, self-sacrifice, and love. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldn’t rely on it, because it’s not guaranteed and it’s not permanent and it’s not sufficient. So work hard, fall in love with the writing—the characters, the story, the words, the themes—and make sure that you are who you are regardless of your life circumstances. That way, when the good things come, they don’t warp you, and when the bad things hit you, you don’t fall apart. Q: You’re a young author--is it your current adult perspective or not-so-recent teenage perspective that brought about the factions in the development of this story? The faction system reflects my beliefs about human nature—that we can make even something as well-intentioned as virtue into an idol, or an evil thing. In a sense, Divergent is me writing through that realization—everyone in Beatrice’s society believes that virtue is the end, the answer. I think we all secretly love and hate categories—love to get a firm hold on our identities, but hate to be confined—and I never loved and hated them more than when I was a teenager. Roth: I tried to construct the factions so that they spanned a wide range of virtues. And hard-working people can certainly take their work too far, as all the factions do with their respective virtues. It’s about a girl whose sister has a powerful kind of magnetism within the confines of a particular town, and how their love for each other breaks some things apart and puts other things back together. It’s one of those books that makes you love a character and then hate a character and then love them again—that shows you that people aren’t all good or all bad, but somewhere in between.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This set includes the trilogy, along with the extra book titled, "Four". They couldn't stop talking about it, so I bought this series for them, and I even read it myself."
"The idea of having to wait to read the entire series because it isn't out yet is rather annoying, so I'd just rather wait then get obsessive over it. I finished this in a sitting... mainly because I just broke night and read through it until the end. I have been spoiled for some parts of the movie and some parts of the books thanks to Tumblr and Instagram, but still an amazing read... something I was not expecting."
"Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books. When dystopia is done right there is nothing like it in the world. All of the contemporary, paranormal, historical, even epic fantasies will never measure up to how I feel when I get lost in these worlds. I'm always afraid, almost doubly so when it comes to books that are surrounded by a lot of hype, what if this is one that disappoints me? The dystopian Chicago world that Veronica Roth has created is definitely unique, unlike any others I've read so far. It was interesting to learn a bit about the 5 different factions, a few more so than the others at this point, and also see how they interacted in a mixed setting like the high school in the beginning of the book. I'm not one for lying and dishonesty but sometimes letting someone off easy instead of brutal honesty just feels better. All the kissing of the boys and the swoons and the fluttering of the heart are all awesome, but when I read dystopia I want creative worlds and conflicts and action and uprisings, rebellions. I want everything to fall apart and I want to be stressing out wondering how in the hell these people are going to come back from everything that's happened. I am irrevocably in love with this series so far and you can bet once I type the last word in this review I'm picking up Insurgent, which is sitting right next to me, and you better not even think about disturbing me!"
Best Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Romance eBooks
Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is selected out of hundreds of girls to take up residence in the tree-top harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal prince. - Books For Tomorrow ★★★★★. _________________________________________. Note: Derek Novak and Sofia Claremont's story is only a 7 book series. It completes in Book 7: A Break of Day, and the characters embark on entirely new adventures from Book 8: A Shade of Novak. The more you read the more you fall hopelessly in love with the story and every single character - even the evil ones." "Bella Forrest whisks you away to the Shade, which is constantly transforming as the series progresses. "By the time I finished the book, I was hooked and I knew this was a series I wanted to read. There is a lot of twists, internal conflict, drama intertwined with an underlying love story of survival." Great story line, interesting and complex characters , and a fun take on vampires! "This book was everything I wanted Twilight to be: a suspenseful vampire romance with a strong heroine and a handsome male supporting lead ." " Bella Forrest transports you into a story with many defining moments and an unlikely set of heroes. In a narrative world overrun with supernatural creatures full of angst, A Shade of Vampire puts a new spin on a crowded genre." "...a sexy vampire twist, an unforgettable romance that sizzles from start to finish. - YA Book Season "I can't even remember the last vampire romance I read that I loved as much as this one." The plot is intriguing, the characters are great, and the ending will leave you left begging for more!" "Watching the relationship between Sofia and Derek blossom was fascinating ... A Shade of Vampire has set some high expectations for me."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love this book."
"Wow this book was really good."
"I don't like boy meets girl and they live happy ever after."
"Love love loved it."
"This really wasn't my cup of tea."
"I'm reading the second one now, so it wasn't too bad 😑. I'm a big nerd when it comes to reading and read just about anything I can ey my hands in, but I especially love teen books so I'll keep reading these until they really suck or until the series ends."
"Eighteen year old Sophia is kidnapped from a beach in Cancun and her long time best friend Ben when he goes looking for her later the same evening; only to have their lives changed forever."
"Sofia is just as boring, bland and two-dimensional as Bella Swan, and Derek is a Cullen clone. A few girls are taken with Sofia to be part of Derek's harem, and Sofia shows some concern for them, but they are just there to make Sofia look caring in Derek's eyes and serve no other purpose to the story. While standing before Derek, all scared, Sofia takes one of the other girls hands to comfort her and that for some unknown reason is some great symbol of Sofia's compassion and humanity. There is even an almost exact scene from twilight where Edward plays the piano for Bella in this book where Derek plays the piano for Sofia because apparently an interest in classical music is supposed to make him seem cultured and noble. Sofia and Derek are bland characters with no personality traits besides their one defining trait. Derek is brooding and hates being a vampire and wants to hang on to his humanity, and Sofia is the symbol of that humanity. We're supposed to hate Derek's brother because he objectifies Sofia and leers at her and makes it known he wants to do naughty things to her then suck her dry—yet Derek goes off and feeds on people and Sofia doesn't bat an eye, in fact she COMFORTS him after he gets upset about it the first time (doesn't stop him from doing it again). Sofia's tale, like Bella's, starts with showing us that Sofia is a special snowflake with a "debilitating weakness" that is masked as a strength because she survives despite it. We're led around by the hand and told Sofia is this, Derek is this, and because of that they are some Romeo + Juliet couple, when in truth they have zero depth, zero personality, and the story is bland, boring, predictable and simply awful."