The Scorch Trials

This summer, Mara reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner. The thrilling dystopian tale ended on a cliffhanger, so the librarians here at Pearl were very excited when the next book, The Scorch Trials, came out in October.

Thomas and his friends have escaped the Maze, but it seems like their tests are only beginning. The action starts right away in this book, throwing the Gladers into what is myteriously being called "Phase Two": The Scorch Trials. The boys are given very vague instructions: head north and survive the Flare (a mysterious disease). If not, death is imminent.

The boys head towards their destination, even picking up some new friends. But as they progress further and further, more questions come up than are answered: Where is Tom's friend Teresa? Where did this boy, Aris, come from? Is the shadowy organization WICKED who seems to be behind all of this for good or for evil?

The book is extremely fast-paced and exciting, and the interactions between the characters alternates between hilarious and extremely strained. This book also ends on a cliffhanger, which will be resolved in the final installment, The Death Cure, due out next fall. I can't wait! Click here to request The Scorch Trials from your library. But be sure to read The Maze Runner first--available here.

Check out more about James Dashner at his blog.

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Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie is the story of Cassia, a girl who lives in a world that is governed by the Society. The Society decides where you will live, what and when you will eat, where you will work, who you will marry, and when you will die. The Society's decisions are perceived as perfect, and are for the good of all the people. All teenage girls look forward to their Matching ceremony, where they discover the identity of their future mate. Cassia is elated when she is matched with her best friend, Xander. But she's shocked when a computer screen shows her the face of someone else as her match: the quiet and elusive Ky. She is told by the Officials that it was just a computer error, but Cassia is not so sure, and this event sets her off onto a journey of questions and discovery: are the Society's decisions really perfect? And should she continue to follow them blindly? If you enjoyed other dystopian books such as The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner, Matched might be perfect for your next read! Matched is the first book in a planned trilogy; be sure to look for the next book, Crossed, when it comes out late next year.

Read more about Matched at author Ally Condie's website. Request this book by clicking here.

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Book Review

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman is the story of high school student Elizabeth who takes what she thinks is a normal after-school job as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository. When she arrives, she realizes that many of the things housed in this particular library are definitely not normal or ordinary--especially the items in the Grimm Collection, which houses items from fairy tales. As she begins to understand the significance and power of these items, she and her fellow pages are drawn into a series of adventures involving magic, myth, and fantasy. Check out Shulman's website and read the first chapter here:
http://pollyshulman.com/grimm.html

If you like a little magic and suspense in your reading or if you've ever been a fan of fairy tales, this book is for you! Click here to request this book.

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