Random Reads

Page-turners are suspense filled books that find readers racing to the end to see how it will end.  Many times these books are read in one sitting or may keep a reader up all night. 

Deadly Little Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz

  Sixteen year old Camelia's life is pretty ordinary.  She gets decent grades, has an afer school job, and gets along relatively well with her parents.  Things drastically change when a new boy with a shady past starts at her school.  Ben is rumored to have killed his ex-girlfriend.  Camelia is attracted to Ben and they start a friendship.  Scary things begin happening to Camelia.  She is being stalked by somebody.  She feels watched.  Somebody breaks into her bedroom.  Somebody is leaving photographs of herself in her mailbox.  Is it Ben?  Or is Ben trying to protect her?  I'm a huge fan of Laurie Stolarz and this book reminds me why. 

Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore

   Catherine Grace Cline has one dream and one dream only, to leave Ringgold, population 1,923, on her 18th birthday.  She is the daughter of a preacher and loves her father and younger sister immensely but feels that there is more to life than growing the biggest tomato.  The setting is the 1970's and readers will be drawn into country life and Catherine's dreams and aspirations.  Secondary characters play an important role in this novel and they are quirky, caring, and very likeable.  I couldn't put this book down!  Will Catherine achieve her dreams?  A few shockers along the way keep the pace and readers will immediately fall in love with this novel.

Cheated by Patrick Jones

 

   "The one who talks is the one who walks."  At least that's what the investigator tells Mick as he interrogates him to find out the truth.  Mick has fallen into an impossible situation.  One night of partying and drinking with his best friends Brody and Aaron ended with a dead body.  The three friends swear to protect each other and decide to keep mum at all costs. Only they know the truth.  And they're not talking, or are they?  Jones delivers another compelling read with elements of friendship, loyalty, murder, and betrayal.  He weaves a tale of suspense as he cleverly unravels this psychological thriller.  Fans of Gail Giles will find an additional author to love!

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

     Clay Jensen returns home from school one day to find a package on his steps.  At first he's excited to see he has a package to open.  After he opens the package, his life is never the same again.  He discovers the package is from a former classmate and crush Hannah who comitted suicide two weeks earlier.  Clay is horrified to discover that the package contains cassette tapes that Hannah made right before dying.  Hannah's voice explains there were 13 reasons why she ended her life.  Clay is one of those reasons.  Clay listens to Hannah's voice and discovers another side to her that he never knew existed.  This powerful debut novel will make readers take a second look at how they treat others and how society should respond to certain situations.

Black Tuesday by Susan Colebank

    Jayne Thompkins is a serious girl who is an overachiever, the top of her junior class, and is Harvard bound.  Her biggest priority is studying in order to keep her GPA.  Life suddenly changes when she is in a car accident while driving.  She is fine and the other two drivers are fine but a little girl who is a passenger in the other car is not fine.  She ends up in a brain dead coma and dies.  Jayne's life as she knew is irrevocably changed.  She begins community service, her grades slip, she becomes estranged from her family, and hooks up with the wrong boy.  Will Jayne pull her grades up in time for graduation and will she ever forgive herself?  This novel is very well written and very engaging. 

The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

   This is one of James Patterson's finest novels to date.  I have read ALL his previous novels and have been a little disappointed lately since he cranks them out almost as fast as Danielle Steel.  Alas, I have not given up on him yet based on his previous well written bestsellers.  Lauren Stillwell has a one night stand, "a quickie,"  in retaliation to her husband's affair.  Her one night indiscretion leads to a future that she could never have imagined.  This fast paced novel is filled with twists and turns that will leave the reader wishing this book would never end!  Highly recommend.

Harmless by Dana Reinhart

    Anna and Emma are freshmen who've been best friends since third grade.  Emma befriends Mariah, another freshman dating a senior at another school.  Mariah seems worldly and popular and the other two girls are drawn to her.  Eventually the three girls become inseperable until one night changes everything.  Instead of being caught in a lie, the trio fabricate an even bigger lie to avoid getting into trouble.  Their lie spirals out of control and an entire community is affected.  This novel was engaging and would most likely appeal to younger teen readers.

 

What Happened to Cass McBride?  by Gail Giles

     What happened to Cass McBride?  She was buried alive.  This suspenseful, psychological thriller is Gail Giles at her absolute best.  Cass McBride has everything.  She is rich, popular, and adored by her father.  David is everything she's not.  When David asks Cass on a date, she rejects him then writes about it in a letter to her friend that accidentally falls into David's hands.  Later, David commits suicide.  Kyle, David's older brother, blames Cass for his brother's death.  He seeks revenge by kidnapping Cass and burying her alive.  The dialogue between Cass and Kyle finally reveals the truth, but is it too late?  Gail Giles descriptions of Cass being buried alive are so descriptive and powerful that the reader feels as if they are underground with her.  This fast paced read will leave readers on the edge of their seat as they race to the end to reveal the outcome of Cass McBride.

     The Poloverdo’s live in a remote farmhouse in Chile and very rarely get visitors.  One afternoon, Angel Allegria arrives and murders the farmer and his wife but spares the life of their son Paolo.  Angel and Paolo form a unique friendship and live together in isolation while developing a father-son relationship.  Angel is a murderer, a criminal and a downright horrible person.  Paolo awakens Angel’s sensitive side as they begin their new life together in this remote stretch of land.  One day, Luis Secunda, a city dweller and traveler, arrives at the farmhouse and ends up taking residence.  Angel and Luis struggle to assume the paternal role as Paolo forms bonds with each man.  The three later leave the farmhouse and their journey will eventually separate them as they struggle with various obstacles.  This novel addresses many psychological issues that will keep the reader guessing until the end. 

     Jason is twelve years old and the last person to see his seven year old neighbor Alicia alive.  She has been murdered and the police bring him in for questioning.  Jason is happy to assist in the investigation in any way possible.  The police are under great pressure to catch the killer so they bring in Trent, a police interrogator who always gets a confession.  The police are convinced that the twelve year old they have in custody is the culprit.  The majority of the novel takes place in the interrogation room as Trent continually questions Jason and pushes for a confession.  This novel will grasp the reader's attention as they race to finish to see if Jason will admit to the crime and will be surprised by the outcome.  This is Cormier's last novel and was published after his death.  Fans of his other works will not be disappointed. 

     Sunny lives in her older sister's Jazz's shadow.  Jazz is the apple of her parents' eyes.  Jazz is 18 when she perishes in a New York City apartment fire.  Her remains are never positively identified.  Everyone is upset about her death except fourteen year old Sunny.  Her parents are not dealing with the death and her father has begun drinking more heavily.  A few months after the death, Sunny receives a letter from Jazz stating that she had been out of town during the fire and will arrive home shortly.  The person who arrives looks like Jazz, acts like Jazz, and knows the family history but the person is clearly an impostor.  Her mother remains in denial and is just glad to have her daughter back.  In a climatic scene, Sunny confronts the impostor.  This is easily one of the best suspense novels I had ever read until I reached the last page.  The ending was quite frustrating and prompted an e-mail to the author who graciously replied. 

     Duncan works for the Lost and Found department for the Toronto Subway System.  One day he discovers a journal that he begins to read.  The chilling diary reveals a person who tortured animals as a child, committed arson, and is currently stalking three women on the subway.  He reveals a plot to choose one of them to kidnap and possibly kill.  Duncan delivers the journal to the police who do not believe his story.  He enlists his friends to help him catch the would-be killer.  Duncan has unresolved guilt over a drowning accident the previous summer in which he failed the rescue attempt.  He believes that if he can catch the killer, he can redeem himself.  In a surprising twist, the journal owner actually comes to claim the lost diary.  Duncan and his friends follow the potential killer and a climatic showdown leaves an injured party and a death.  The novel is full of suspense and readers will be satisfied with the conclusion and will probably be haunted for months to come.

     Claire is a cheerleader and one of the popular crowd.  Her friends keep her busy so she doesn't have to think about the possibility of a cancer relapse which is always in the back of her mind.  A new student, Lani Garver, is taunted and ridiculed because of his/her strange appearance.  Nobody can tell if Lani is female or male.  Lani has beautiful white skin, a bob haircut, and acts feminine.  The students determine he is gay.  Claire befriends Lani and confides her deepest fears and secrets.  Lani helps Claire confront her cancer and an eating disorder.  The novel addresses issues such as homosexuality, bullying, prejudice and loyalty.  A tragic ending will leave readers wondering, "What happened to Lani Garver?"