Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Two People that are NOT J.K. Rowling

We all feel the pressure from our parents- when we're little it's the pressure to eat our vegetables and to clean up our dirty clothes. As we get older it's the pressure to choose the right electives or make the right teams. And so on, and so on. Even if you happen to be a wizard, you still feel the pressure from your parents. And it happens to multiply (by a billion) if your dad is Harry Potter. When you're a child of the "boy who lived" life can't be normal, because your dad's not normal (just check out his head!). This is the life for Albus, son of Harry and Ginny Potter. The just average, wrong house obtaining, broomstick ruining wizard that can't seem to live up to his father's potential and his hefty name.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a book that accompanies the series, notice how I did not say the eighth book to the series. It was written by two authors and was written as a play, not a story or chapter book. Do not be surprised when you pick this book up and see it written as a script, because that is what it originally was. If you have never read a Harry Potter book or even seen one of the movies (shame on you, go to the Tween shelf and find one immediately) do not bother to pick this book up. Since it is written as a play there is very little devoted to description of the characters or even the settings. You must use what you already know about the characters and the various settings in order to set up what's happening. If you have read the books (yay, you!) then yes, this is a must read. Ever since the seventh book ended I've wanted more. More, more more! I pictured everything working out, a happily ever after. It's what Harry deserved after living the first portion of his life under a staircase and then being ruthlessly hunted down by mass murderer throughout his teenage years. But what if that's not the case. If you are a Harry Potter fan then yes, this book will give you a couple hours of sweet bliss because it's more. If you are looking for the next book to become an epic masterpiece, this will not be it. But why trust me? Check out Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, even if you are a slytherin I would love to know what you think!
-JAC

Lucky Few, by Kathryn Ormsbee

The first time Stevie encounters Max, he's lying in the neighbor's yard in a pool of (fake) blood. The second time the two bump into each other, Max is (fake) drowning in a local lake. Each time max is in peril, Stevie comes to his rescue. And each time she discovers Max's almost-deaths are nothing more than cleaverly-orchestrated acting. How frustrating!

With a meet-cute like this, how can it NOT be true love?

Stevie soon learns that Max recentely had a near-death experience and lived to tell about it. Ever since then, he's bound and determined to thumb his nose at Death by faking his death in as many ways as possible without... well, without actually dying. Stevie, along with her equally-quirky BFF Sanger, agrees to help Max complete his list, some of which are pretty bizarre (spontaneous combustion, anyone?).

What follows is a morbidly hilarious adventure, as the trio of teens cement their friendship over angry (and possibly rabid) peacock attacks, hypothermia, and deadly allergic reactions. 

But as Max's two-month deadline to complete the list approaches, some very serious truths come to the surface. And Stevie realizes that there are things even more important than (fake) death. Like friendship, love, and life.

Lucky Few by Kathryn Ormsbee is the perfect blend of quirky humor, serious life situations, and sweet romance. The characters were well-rounded, likable (but not without faults), and learns (tough) lessons that help them become a better person when everything is said and done. Another thing I liked: The ending wasn't one of those Happily Ever After types that's all wrapped up and tied with a big shiny ribbon. There are things that don't work out. There are loose ends. There are realizations that sometimes you can't erase certain things. But the ending is still satisfying.

I absolutely recommend this one! --AJB

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I've taken this book in chapter by chapter, one here and one there, over the past three weeks and the experience was surprisingly not ruined by that. It says something if a story manages to hold my interest when I spread it out over a long period of time. Usually, I like them fast and close together. This book could have easily been a quick read and when I left it behind for a few days I found myself thinking about it.

Also, I found myself in the strange situation of digesting two romances at the same time this month and the experience pretty much turned me into a giggling puddle of girl. Ick.

This is the story of Mallory, a girl who spent the first twelve years of her life in foster care. The family she lived with was abusive and alcoholic. However, she always had a protector in Rider, another foster child who lived with the same family. Rider took many beatings for her and kept her as safe as he could, teaching her to hide in the closet and stay silent until the danger was over.

Now, Mallory is returning to public school for the first time in four years. After she was seriously injured, she was adopted by a pair of doctors who have provided her a safe and stable home. She is still recovering, though, and finds speaking to be particularly difficult after being conditioned to be silent. She's not quite sure if she is ready for public school but Mallory knows that if she wants to go to college she's going to have to get used to people and classes and, well, talking. What she doesn't expect is to run into Rider on the first day of school.

Rider has grown up and he is ridiculously hot. Mallory and him are drawn together by their past and their obvious affection for one another. It's complicated though. Mallory's parents don't approve of Rider for a number of reasons. Rider has a girlfriend and is still in the system. As Mallory realizes the truth about Rider and his life, she must figure out how to be the hero this time around or possibly lose him forever.

I liked this one. Like I said, it made me feel like a puddle of goo at times and it made me tear up a few times too. I probably could have done without the Epilogue as it tied things up too neatly for me but other readers will enjoy the glimpse into "forever."  -RYQ

We Are The Goldens, by Dana Reinhardt

Layla has a secret: She's in love. But she can't tell anyone. Not her best friends. Certainly not her parents. Not even her younger sister, Nell, who idolizes her and with whom she's closer to than anyone else in the world. They wouldn't understand. Because this is not just the average high school relationship. Layla is in love with one of her teachers--and he feels the same way (apparently) about her. She's been sneaking out to be with him, lying about where she's been, ignoring her friends, and making excuses to get out of plans (so she can be with him). 

And Nell is the only one who suspects something is wrong. She just doesn't know what. Of course there are the rumors (there are always rumors about this particular teacher), but she doesn't start to believe they might be true until she investigates...

...and what she finds is shocking even beyond what she suspected.

Told from Nell's point of view in an open narrative addressed toward Layla, We Are The Goldens, by Dana Reinhardt is nonstop action. No, not the car chases and explosions type of action, but the dramatic sort that keeps you turning pages. Readers discover along with Nell the mystery of what's wrong with Layla, they learn how she feels moment-to-moment, and share the shock of her final discovery, the one that may finally push her to break her silence.

An awesome book! Read it! --AJB