Monument 14

Author: Emmy Laybourne

Publishser: Feiwell and Friends

What would you do if you were trapped in a superstore where the end of the world seemed to be going on outside its walls? Dean is trapped in a Greenway superstore with six little kids, six high schoolers, and two eighth graders (including his brother), after a monster hailstorm forces the bus he’s riding into the store’s front doors. From there, disaster after disaster forces them to rethink everything they do.

Monument 14 is a great book for girls and boys from around seventh grade to high school. Readers who enjoy apocalyptic settings and survival stories will like this immensely. 

Monument 14 is a stunning story, almost as perfect as you can get. The characters are memorable and completely unique. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways and directions, creating suspense, tragedy, and romance without becoming just another suspenseful, tragic, and romantic read. Definitely a book worth reading!

Before You Go

Author: James Preller

Publisher: Feiwell and Friends

What would you do if several years ago, a terrible accident rocked your family and things are just starting to feel right again–when suddenly another disaster strikes? Jude Fox still feels guilty about his little sister drowning when he was supposed to be watching six years ago, but he’s beginning to put it in the past. He’s starting a new summer job, finding new friends, and falling in love. But things refuse to be perfect for him...including another horrible catastrophe that will change his life yet again.

Before You Go is a perfect book for boys and girls from fifth to eighth grade. Teens that prefer dramatic novels with a hint of comedy and romance will love this read. 

Before You Go is a very powerful book, encompassing strong emotions and their various responses, like guilt and forgiveness. A beautiful plot seems to be cut short at the end, not seeming to be wrapped up just enough for many readers to thoroughly enjoy. It is a generally sound book, however, and is definitely worth reading.

Seize the Storm

Author: Michael Cadnum
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Adults

Imagine you’re on a yacht with your family, when suddenly, everything goes wrong. Cousins Martin and Susannah, along with Susannah’s parents and a crewman, are boating on the Pacific when they find a boat. The boat carries two dead men and a bag of money. Will they leave the boat be? Or will they take the money as their own? 

Seize the Storm is a great read for sixth or seventh grade boys. Boys who like to read about boating adventures and like quick reads will enjoy this book to its fullest.

Seize the Storm begins with a confusing and fast beginning that makes much more sense the further you get into the story. The characters never seem real, instead seeming to contradict themselves by behaving differently than on the page before. The ending is very quiet compared to the rest of the book, and wouldn’t satisfy many readers. 

The Island of Thieves

Author: Josh Lacey

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What would you do if while staying at your uncle’s house (who you barely know) you take a trip to Peru and are suddenly in a life-threatening situation? Tom Trelawney is sent to his uncle Henry’s house after burning down the shed in his backyard. Right after Tom’s parents leave, Uncle Henry confides to Tom that he has to go to Peru and Tom will have to stay in his apartment. But Tom quickly convinces Uncle Henry to let him tag along and soon finds himself in the middle of a dangerous world filled with crime and mysterious journal entries… about treasure?

Island of Thieves would be good for middle school boys with a liking of novels based around crime and adventure. 

Island of Thieves starts great and ends great. It is well written, but is a little bland, and doesn’t have the many details lots of readers crave. However, it is fast-paced and never slows down. A touch of comedy adds depth to this story, which is already filled with action and unexpected twists and turns. 

A Girl Named Digit

Author: Annabel Monoghan

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What would you do if you decoded a stream of numbers that were the date of a terrorist attack–- but you didn’t know what was special on that date until after the attack? Farrah “Digit” Higgins is a math genius–- she can find patterns and crack codes from giant groups of numbers. So when flashing numbers appear on a TV show, she decodes them to find the date JFK was elected. And the next day, there is a terrorist attack on JFK airport. Coincidence? Nope. Digit’s life is soon filled with numbers, running, and decoding. Not to mention a cute FBI agent...

A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monoghan is ideal for any tween or teen girl that loves a good mystery, romance, and action novel all rolled into one.

This book is as perfect as a book can be. It has the perfect blend of genres, not to mention the highly relatable characters. It has the flawless pace; never getting boring and never too fast that you miss something. It’s sure to keep you up all night to finish!