Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin

This was a very interesting nonfiction title.  I loved the narrative nonfiction book about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after he shot Abraham Lincoln (Chasing Lincoln's Killer).  This book is equally good about the plot to steal Lincoln's body from his monument and hold it until demands were met.  Just like Chasing Lincoln's Killer, this book is written in narrative form so it reads like a "story." This is a true crime thriller.  You get a look at counterfeiting, grave robbing, detective work and the early days of the secret service.

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Wow, this book was amazing.  I was kind of getting burned out on all the dystopian literature that is out there but this one was fantastic.  After the 7 stage war the US was in shambles (much of the information about what happened to the country comes as test questions the characters must answer).  They have put themselves back together as the United Commonwealth colonies.  To choose acceptable leaders for the United Commonwealth the best and brightest students are chosen for "The Testing."  If students make it through the testing (which is debatable since in these tests a wrong answer could mean death) they get to go to University.  Cia is our first person narrator and I really enjoyed her strength, her ability to solve problems and her lack of whining. There is a budding romance in this story, but it takes a back seat to the rest of the story.  Warning:  this story has teeth.  It is brutal.  Characters are gravely injured and die in this novel, others must make decisions to end lives. I have ordered the 2nd one in the series, which should be here by the end of the year and will be also purchasing the 3rd.  

The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith

The Fury is written by the author of the Escape from the Furnace series.  Now, I haven't read that series but my good friend, 8th grader William V., HAS and raves about them.  He also raved about this book so, even though it is the size of a brick and is 681 pages, I decided to wade in with both feet.  Boy am I glad I did.  This book really moves.  The world has gone crazy but for only a few.  People turn into fury filled killers when they come in close proximity to  the main characters.  When they are not close to them they return to their regular sensible selves.  But WHY is it happening?  That, my friends is the big question.  There is something special about these kids and as they set out to find each other and forge an alliance to protect themselves they realize they have to protect the world from something bigger and badder.  I can't be too specific because the why and the what are what propels this story forward at breakneck speed!