The Rule of Three by Eric Walters

Reasons I couldn't put this book down:

• The tag line: "A person can last 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. A community begins to die in just seconds"
• Male POV that was relatable and realistic.
• "Society" was still run by adults even if a teen was seriously in the know.
• Did I mention it was totally realistic?

Things that annoyed me:

• Can a computer virus really travel through AM/FM radio waves?
• So many questions and variables. This was just a set up for book two right? And when will that come out? Waiting is not my forte. And Adams dad will be in the next book right?
• Coincidences like this are unlikely but they really made for a good story.

When a computer virus takes out any and all electronics with computerized parts the world as we know it is over. Fortunately, the main character Adam is set. He drives a real old car with no computer, he built an old pre-computer plane in his garage with his dad, oh and he can fly it too. His mom is police chief--so she knows what's going on, is a community leader, and is armed.

But the best part, his neighbor is a (don't tell because it is classified) former CIA operative who has watched civilizations devolve and has been hoarding supplies for years. Prepares take note, in addition to your supplies choose your neighbors carefully.

In this book the enemy is the human race and the price of survival. I'm expecting this is only book one, and I'm already waiting for book two. This will be popular so add it to your book carts fellow librarians.



If you need me I will be stockpiling canned goods, non-perishables, bottled water and chlorine tablets and any other survival supply I can find.

Read-a-likes:
Life As We Knew It and Monument 14

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

There is something about the books by Katie McGarry that are completely engrossing. They are very romance-y and highly appealing. But there is so much more to them. In this chapter (the third in a series) we finally get Isaiah's story and his burgeoning romance with Rachel.

As with all of McGarry's books, the characters have deeply problematic personal and family lives. She has given each characters a past that is troubling them to them--issues that all teens can relate to in at least one of the characters. In this book Isaiah deals with his abandonment by his family, and the child-care system in addition while Beth has an overprotective family with unbearably high expectations and panic attacks.

This was an excellent book--captivating and appealing. I am getting a bit tired of the male character in books always wanting to protect the female character. Although kudos (spoiler) for Rachel not standing back and being protected.

I hope McGarry keeps writing (maybe one for Abby--my favorite character akin to the waffle loving harbinger in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer).

Things I Love About My Job

Things I love about my job as a librarian:

Speaking with an English accent along with other Teen Services librarians while setting up for a live-action clue event.

It was awesome if a little disorganized. Only one teen knew the game!?!

Relish by Lucy Knisley

Food is how my family relates. A holiday? Here is a huge meal with all the traditional dishes. A birthday? All of your favorite foods. Just another Tuesday? Lets get together with a big giant bowl of clam dip. Food can bring people together and it is a beacon of tradition. Some may say it is just about sustenance--but others know it isn't.

I just finished reading Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley. I'm impressed and I'm ready to go do some cooking. Or baking.

Lucy grew up the child of a excellent cook/ caterer and true foodie. She appreciates and craves delicious, fresh, perfectly prepared delicacies as well as junk food staples. This memoir is humorous and easy to relate to. I immediately began looking for her first novel. A must read for those with culinary aspirations.

Twigs by Alison Ashley Formento

Twigs is an 18 year old girl...I mean woman...who is staring community college while her boyfriend is away at college. A girl who is working at a local pharmacy for the worst boss ever and a girl who is having major family issues. Her brother Matt is missing in Iraq, her sister and mother both have new boyfriends who are always around and she hasn't heard from her father in years--but apparently the rest of the family has.

The theme of this book is undeniably family--as an institution as the people you choose to surround yourself with. However, this book tackles to many issues as well:

War--her Brother Matt goes missing
Growing Up--Twigs tries to redefine herself as Madeline
Relationships--the Boyfriend away at college
Learning to Stand Up for Herself--job and relationships
Abuse--not in Twigs family but in a sub-character. This could tie into family if there wan't so much going on...

And lastly there is the pink-loving, disaster of a woman who destroys the pharmacy in the opening pages and throws open bottles of hair dye at Twigs giving her a sort of tiger make-over. This lady adds the most value to the story and entertainment as well. Rather than being a problem for Twigs, she takes her as family while her marriage is falling apart. She made this book and really made it ripe for discussion.

However, I think this book could do more. It touches on substantial issues and while predictable at times it is believable and honest. I think the themes need to be flushed out more to be a truly great book but I do think teens will gravitate towards it and emerging adults as well.

Reality Boy by A.S. King

A.S. King has done it again. Reality Boy is fantastic and I can't wait to get it in the library and start recommending it.

Gerald Faust was a child reality TV star--famous for being horrible and leaving presents for his family in inappropriate places (not the toilet). He is still living in the same town, still battling rage issues and still known as "The Crapper."

But as always, what is seen on TV, especially reality TV, is never the whole story. Reality Boy gets to the roots of the truth and brings his family knowledge and unity they should have had more than a decade earlier. Interspersed with chapters direct from the TV episodes from his youth I can't see how this won't be popular and resonate with teens.

Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young

Cat Patrick is hugely popular in my library. If I put one of her books on display, guaranteed it will be checked out by the end of the day.

This book, written by both Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young tells two consecutive stories about the same girl, Caroline based on whether or not she went to a party the night her grandmother died.

This is a raw look at families and the way they come together or pull apart. It also looks at fate and if a single decision can really change the course of a life. Well done.

Though it started off slow I was pulled into the story and very glad I read it.




ARC received from publisher at BEA