Daughter of Deep Silence

YA Fiction

G/A Ryan, Carrie. Daughter of Deep Silence. Dutton, 2015. 378p. 978-0-525-42650-9. 17.99.

Frances Mace is one of only three survivors of the Persephone yacht disaster.  The other two are Senator Wells and his son, Grey.  At first, Frances is overjoyed when she learns that Grey has survived, but then realizes something is terribly wrong when Senator Wells and Grey claim that a large wave swallowed the Persephone. However, Frances knows the truth – that men with guns attacked the Persephone and massacred three hundred and twenty-seven people.  Frances has lost both her parents and her friend, Libby, in the aftermath. Frances is rescued by Libby’s father, and he decides that the only way to keep her safe is to have her assume Libby O’Martin’s identity.  Now four years later, France puts her plan into action. Intent on exposing the Senator and Grey and uncovering the truth of the massacre, Frances will stop at nothing to get revenge, even if it means hurting Grey, the boy she once fell in love with years ago.  Camille Campos, YA Librarian, Angeles Mesa Branch Library, LAPL

Illuminae: The Illuminae Files_01

YA Fiction

E/A Kaufman, Amie and Jay Kristoff. Illuminae: The Illuminae Files_01. Knopf, 2015. 608p. 978-0-533-49911-7. 18.99.

The day that Kady dumps Ezra – their whole world falls apart. Their remote mining colony, Kerenza, is attacked by a warship, the Lincoln, which is owned by a rival corporation—BeiTech Industries.  Kady and Ezra escape with their lives to end up on two different ships.  Kady and her mother are on the Hypatia, the scientific exploration vessel, while Ezra is on the battlecarrier Alexander and is later conscripted by the United Terran Authority, as a pilot for their Cyclone fighter crafts.  The Lincoln is relentlessly pursuing them, and it’s only a matter of time before it catches up to them.  Meanwhile, a deadly and highly contagious plague breaks out, and their artificial intelligence, AIDAN, seems to have gone mad and turned against them.  When Kady realizes that Ezra is stuck onboard the Alexander the ship where the virus is getting out of control, (even though she swore she never wanted to see or talk to him again) she risks everything to go and save him. A great sci-fi thriller illustrated and told as a dossier of memoranda, reports, emails, journal entries, intercepted messages and other “classified” documents.  Camille Campos, YA Librarian, LAPL, Angeles Mesa Branch Library

Last of the Sandwalkers

Graphic Novel

VG/A  Hosler, Jay.  Last of the Sandwalkers.  First Second, 2015.  312p.  978-1-62672-024-4.  16.99

Jay Hosler is not only the author and artist of this book, but also a biology professor, and it shows in this great graphic novel. Lucy is one of 5 beetles that sets out from their home in New Coleopolis on a scientific expedition trying to discover if there is life outside of their small oasis. When they find a human skeleton they can’t believe their luck of discovering such a giant and unusual specimen. Professor Owen wants the credit for the discovery and to keep control of what information is brought back to their community, so he launches the other 4 beetles out of the area. Lucy and her 3 companions survive and land in a foreign place where they see and survive dyno-soars (birds), spiders, snakes and lots of other beetles. On their journey back they learn more about the history (and secrets) of New Coleopolis and the world outside of their community. Hosler manages to incorporate lots of scientific information about beetles and other creatures without making it feel like a science text. He also has a great section of annotations that are informative and funny and a resource guide for readers that want to know more. It’s a great graphic novel for all ages and interests. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial Branch

Tommy: The Gun That Changed America

Young Adult Non-Fiction

VG/A  Blumenthal, Karen.  Tommy: The Gun That Changed America.  Roaring Brook, 2015.  232p.  978-1-62672-084-8.  19.99

Blumenthal brings readers back to the 1920s and 1930s that she explored in her book, Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine and the Lawless Years of Prohibition, to discuss the invention of the Thompson submachine gun and its effects on the United States war on crime and gun laws. Although the Tommy submachine gun was originally invented to be used by the military, it was more likely to be seen in the hands of criminals. Blumenthal traces the history of the gun, from inception to production to its use by gangsters such as Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger and to the Department of Justice and NRA’s involvement in the creation of gun laws. It’s a fascinating look at an iconic weapon of the 20^th century and how its’ invention led to debate over weapons that we still deal with today. Great resource for students interested in the time period, gun history, gangsters or gun control. Book includes many archival black & white photographs and a detailed bibliography. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial Branch

HITLER'S LAST DAYS

GENERAL YA NONFICTION

G/A  O'Reilly, Bill.  Hitler's Last Days.  Holt, 2015.  306p.  978-1-62779-396-4.  19.99.  From his command post, an underground ti-level bunker, Hitler and his military advisers attempt last ditch efforts to establish an idealistic Aryan Germany.  Defeat, however, is imminent as American and European forces execute some definitive battles.  This adaptation from the author's Killing Patton
is filled primarily with descriptions of military maneuvers.  Format is handsome -- including news designed end-papers; a gallery of key participants; multiple historic b/w pictures; Hitler's "will"; and a detailed index.  Useful for studies involving WW II.
E.M. Roublow (ret.)

Orbiting Jupiter

General YA Fiction

VG/A Schmidt, Gary.  Orbiting Jupiter.  Clarion, 2015.  192p.  978-0544462229.  17.99

When Jack’s parents decide to foster 8^th grader Joseph they know that he has had a rough past. Even though Jack’s friends all think he should stay away from Joseph, Jack befriends him anyway and they watch out for each other. Joseph is not a bad kid, he’s been through a lot in his short 14 years including fathering a child with a young girl that he loved. Jack and his family promise to help Joseph find his baby daughter, Jupiter. You can’t help but fall in love with Joseph, Jack and Jack’s parents (plus some of the teachers) in this book. Kleenex are necessary. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial Branch

The Secrets We Keep

High School Fiction

F/A  Leaver, Trisha. The Secrets We Keep.  Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015.  304p.  978-0374300463. 17.99

When identical twins Maddy and Ella are involved in a deadly car accident, Ella was driving Maddy’s car. When she wakes up in the hospital, everyone thinks that she is Maddy and that Ella died in the crash. Ella is confused and doesn’t bother to correct anyone, instead she decides that she will just be Maddy from now on, thinking that everyone loved her more anyway. Little does she know that Maddy has some secrets that even Ella didn’t know about. But how long can Ella pretend to be someone that clearly she is not? The premise is frustrating because it’s so unlikely that she could keep up the façade (and why would she want to), but the writing is decent. Teens will love it, even if it’s not exactly plausible. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial Branch