Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

(OOO)

One night, in countries all across Europe, 5 children disappear. No one connects the disappearances because no one remembers the children. Several years later, they all reappear at a Christmas party in New York City. They are introduced as the adopted children of a Madame Villeroy. She has given each of them a talent that they must use to rise to the top of their pretigious high school. THey have goals to reach and nothing, and no one, will stop them. But why don't they remember their past? Two of the children start to questionn their "mother's" motive. This questioning begins the uncovering of secrets so dangerous and shocking it just might turn their family against itself.

This was a very... mysterious book. Even halfway through it I didn't fully understand what it was about. And when I had finished reading it, I still felt a bit confused. But it was still very good writing and a captivating and unique storyline. The characters were pretty developed and from the beginning there were certain ones I prefered over others. I did enjoy this book, and people who are interested in the paranormal will definitely find it interesting. I reccommend it, but with a note that it was a confusing and a bit difficult to read.

Daniel and Dina Nayeri are a brother and sister team who were born in Iran and spent a lot of time in Europe. Daniel lives in NYC and Dina lives in Amsterdam. They have another book called Another Pan that I look forward to reading. For more information about Daniel and Dina, Another Faust, and other works by the pair, visit danielanddina.com

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

(OOOOO)

"It wouldn't be a road trip without some detours..."
When Amy Curry left for a cross country trip from California to her new home in Connecticut with an old family friend Roger Sullivan, she had no idea just how many detours would come her way.

When Amy's father died a few years earlier, her life changed for the worse. With her mother becoming more and more distant, her brother secretly in rehab, and a secret that haunts her, everything seems to be spiraling out of control. Until the day her mom announces that she needs to drive the car across the country to Connecticut, where her mom has already been living. Through a series of "small" detours what seems like an awkward car ride with a now-stranger whom Amy hasn't seen in years turns into a journey in which two teenagers rethink themselves, their pasts... and each other.

This book won me over from the very beginning, starting with the cover. I was looking for a quick, fun, summer romance and I got just that. But I also got so much more. This book, while a fun teen romance, was a story that made me laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. The occasional page of pictures really helped me visualize Amy and Roger's adventure. I fell in love with the characters and found myself cheering for them all across the country. It made me wish I could take a road trip myself. Recommended for any high school girl who wants a fun, romantic read!

Morgan Matson lives in Los Angeles, California and is a fan of roadtrips herself. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is her debut novel. For more information (and the first chapter of the book!) visit morganmatson.com

Vixen by Jillian Larkin

(OOOOO)

"Young. Wealthy. Defiant. Beautiful. Dangerous. It's 1923... and Anything Goes."
This phrase one reads on the back of the book Vixen by Jillian Larkin summarizes the entire story. It's the Jazz Age in Chicago, and Gloria and Lorraine are best friends who hide nothing from each other. Or do they? Gloria longs to enjoy the flapper lifestyle, but now that she is engaged to the powerful Sebastian Grey, will this be possible? Lorraine secretly desires to climb the social ladder and get away from Gloria's shadow, and she will do anything to get there. Anything. The plot thickens when sweet, innocent Clara, Gloria's cousin from Pennsylvania, arrives to help plan the wedding. But under the conservative dresses and boring pastimes, is Clara really everything that she seems, or are her secrets even deeper and darker than those of Gloria and Lorraine? When boys come into the picture, the bonds between these girls loosen. Secrets are kept, lies are told, friends are betrayed. All in the hope of love or fame. When it comes to achieving these things.... Anything goes.

I am a big fan of the twenties era, I chose this book a bit skeptically. I was afraid it would be a Bright Young Things (by Anna Godbersen) wannabe, but I was wrong. This book is a very good interpretation of the time. The plot was slightly predictable as a whole, but the inner details and plots were fantastic and kept me reading. I was also very impressed by the character development of this book, which is often a problem in teen fiction. I found myself cheering for some characters, and desperately angry at others. I felt like I was in the book, which in my opinion is a sign of well developed characters and a wonderfully written plot. I loved this book and it definitely qualifies as one of my favorites. I recommend it to older teenagers who are looking for an accurate but intriguing story of the times of the flappers.

Jillian Larkin, like me, has been fascinated with the flapper era since her childhood. She lives in New York, and has written a sequel to Vixen, Ingenue, which I look forward to reading. For more information about Jillian Larkin and her books, visit randomhouse.com/teens.

Wildwing by Emily Whitman

(OOOOO)

Addy knows she is not meant for a life as a simple maid in a gentleman's home. She wishes to wear the dresses and live the fancy life that her character in the upcoming play, the queen, must live. But when a fight causes her mother to remove her from school to become a maid in the house of Mr. Greenwood, a man who has been slightly crazy since the loss of his son years before, Addy loses her part in the play to a girl who does nothing but taunt her.

Addy reluctantly serves out her duty as a maid, when one day she discovers, of all things, an elevator cab in an abandoned bedroom. She steps inside and is suddenly swept away into a world very different from her own. Here, she is mistaken for the future bride of the lord that lives in the castle Addy recognizes as the ruins she has seen so often in her time. Addy becomes used to the pampered, high life that she lives as Lady Matilda while the lord is still away on business, but then she meets William, the falconer's son, whose stunning blue eyes and love for hawking make Addy wonder if she is really ready to leave her entire life behind and become the bride of this man she has never met, but does she really have a choice?

Once again, I have chosen a book about time travel. What can I say, it fascinates me. This book was no exception. It was wonderful. The characters were very likeable and the plot, although just a little bit predictable, was fascinating, although this could be because time travel is one of my favorite subjects. It wasn't focused as much on the time as it was Addy's desire to be someone different, and using a different time period was her way of becoming that person. The midieval times seemed pretty accurate, but for some reason the 1900s, which is where (when?) Addy is actually from, didn't seem very much like the other books I have read about from that time period. It could be that I have never really read one from that perspective. The end was very surprising to me, and I am sure that this book will be enjoyable for anyone who enjoys books about time travel and finding one's true identity. Overall, Wildwing is a great book that I enjoyed very, very much.

Emily Whitman is an author from Oregon who shares my love for time (and worldly) travel. Her first book, Radiant Darkness, was a #1 Indiebound Pick and I look forward to reading it soon! For more information about Wildwing, Radiant Darkness, and Emily Whitman, visit www.emilywhitman.com,