The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding

The Diamond of Drury Lane intertwines mystery, action and humor. It is the story of Cat Royal, an orphan who lives in a theater in 1700s London, England. When she overhears the owner of the theater talking about a diamond hidden in the theater, Cat's curiosity is sparked, as well as the curiosity of some local gangs. The story is told through the eyes of Cat, with her witty humor scattered throughout the book.

This is a really good book. I found it interesting and funny. You get to learn a little bit about what life might be like in the 1700s in London as well.

Reviewed by Dorothy.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Evermore was a really, really good book. It is the first book in a new series by Alyson Noel. It is about a girl, named Ever, who gets in a car crash with her family. The rest of her family (mom, dad, sister and dog) die in the crash. She dies as well, but somehow ends up coming back to life. Now she can hear people's thoughts and see auras. She also gets regular visits from her dead little sister. She lives with her aunt and becomes a bit of a social outcast, with two friends. Then one day a mysterious guy comes to her school. He has the ability to silence the thoughts of others with his touch. And Ever doesn't know who, or what he is.

I loved this book. It really keeps your attention though out the story, because the puzzle gets pieced together bit by bit, but you don't know exactly what happened until the end. The only thing that disappoints me is that the second book won't be published for a while. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.

Reviewed by Dorothy.
Reviewed from an advanced reader copy.

Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

What would happen if there was a boy strapped into a girl's body, whose periodic escapes coincided with the girl's menstrual cycle? What would happen if the boy began to fall for the girl's best friend? McLaughlin tackles these questions, which some might say is just an excuse for split personality disorder, with a kind of grace that makes it all plausible. Her only fault could be the overuse of the word "mal". The transitions between the two viewpoints are very smooth and adept. The book is a quick read.

Reviewed by Caroline.
Reviewed from an advanced reader copy.

Isabelle's Boyfriend by Caroline Hickey

A charming and somewhat petty story about the challenges and risks of getting a boyfriend - only compounded by the fact that said boy is already dating your neighbor, the most popular girl at your school. What happens when Taryn tries to take Isabelle's boyfriend for her own? A few broken hearts are certainly on the agenda. A fun read. The book is short and to the point.

Reviewed by Caroline.
Reviewed from an advanced reader copy.

Miles from Nowhere by Nami Mun

Joon is 13 years old when her father leaves for good. Her mother, never very stable to begin with, becomes more unstable after he leaves. Joon decides that she needs to run away from home in order to survive. In vignettes, she tells of her life on the streets and looks back on aspects of her life before she left her home in the Bronx in the 1980's. While no detail is spared in her descriptions of life as a drug user and prostitute, this is not a hopeless book. The people she meets and the situations she describe are told in such a way that the reader wants everything to work out as well as possible for the people involved. There are no fantasy endings, but there is a realistic ending as Joon claws her way out of life on the street.

This would appeal to teen readers of urban fiction. Because of the situations and choices Joon describes, it would be more appropriate for older teens.

Reviewed by Sue, Reference/YA Librarian
Reviewed from an advanced reader copy.