Alone

Title: Crane, Robert J.  Alone.  Los Angeles: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012.  Print.

Summary: When Sienna Nealon wakes up to find two strange men in her house she does what anyone would do, she runs.  It's the first time she's left her house in 12 years, held captive all that time by her mother, and the outside world isn't anything like she imagined.  Sienna must decide quickly who she can trust when she becomes wanted by everyone.  Fortunately, 12 years of training by her mother has trained her to protect herself, or so she thought.

Critical Analysis:  This book was not at all what I expected.  It's actual supernatural fiction, which I didn't know going in.  It surprised me, but it didn't put me off.  I found the characters interesting from the human agents, Kurt and Zach, to the psychopathic mutant, Wolfe.  The book didn't take me long to read because it was so hard to put down.  I found myself reading it at every spare moment I had whether at work or at home and, as soon as I finished, diving into book two of the series.  As the story progresses it only gets better and ends with a twist that left me eager for more.  The book is full of tons of action which makes it a good read for guys and girls, alike.

Book Recommendations With Similar Themes:

1. Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  Bethany is about to turn thirteen when her parents leave her with an aunt she's never met, telling the woman, "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth."  She doesn't understand what's going on, especially when the people in town treat her with a mixture of shock and fear.  As things become even more complicated Bethany becomes determined to find out what's going on and what exactly is in her past that her parents want to keep hidden.

2. Unenchanted: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale by Chanda Hahn.  Mina Grime is a nobody.  She's unpopular, unnoticed, and completely invisible to her peers until a fateful field trip when she saves the life of her crush.  The incident gets the attention of said crush, but it also wakes the curse her family has held for generations.  Mina Grime is a direct descendant of The Brothers Grimm.  To put an end to the curse Mina must live through a twisted version of every Grimm fairytale and defeat each dangerous one.  If she dies the curse will be passed on to her mute brother and that's not a risk she's willing to take.  Can an unpopular nobody face down fairy tales bent on destroying her?  She's about to find out!

Define "Normal"

Title: Peters, Julie Anne.  Define "Normal".  New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2003, Print.

Summary: When straight-laced Antonia is assigned punk goth Jazz in their school's peer counseling program she's sure she's been assigned to a whole new level of hell.  Antonia is normal and Jazz is just so...not.  The more time Antonia spends with Jazz the more she begins to question what normal truly is and when Antonia's world is turned upside she finds herself looking to Jazz for friendship and comfort.

Critical Analysis:  I truly enjoyed Define "Normal".  The book is a wonderful lesson on judging a book by its cover.  Both girls seem live a certain type of lifestyle.  Antonia is a plain bookish type who always gets A's, and Jazz is a blue-haired black-lipped goth with multiple piercings.  But Antonia's "normal" appearance and Jazz's "abnormal" one say nothing about their home lives.  Through their friendship together they learn not to be so quick to judge on looks alone, because people can be much different than they appear.  To those struggling with family and personal problems at home this book gives hope that help can come in the most unlikely places from the most unlikely people.

Book Recommendations With Similar Themes:

1. Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga.  Kyra Sellers was just discharged from the mental ward after six months.  Now she's back and ready to reunite with the only friend she had before she was admitted.  The problem is that he isn't the same person he was when she left.  That makes her angry and she vows to get back at him, but in the process she learns a few things about herself that she never knew were possible.

2. Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  Mrs. Dunphrey's English class is required to keep a journal.  Tish Bonner would normally blow off something like that, but she could really use someone to talk to and Mrs. Dunphrey has promised not to read any entry marked "Do Not Read."  The more Tish writes the more she finds herself divulging secrets she was never supposed to reveal, but the journal is an outlet that helps her cope with the things that are happening to her and that's something too invaluable to give up.

The Healer's Apprentice

Title: Dickerson, Melanie.  The Healer's Apprentice.  Michigan: Zondervan, 2010.  Print.

Overview:  To escape the constant barrage of wealthy aging men her mother constantly tries to convince her to marry, Rose becomes the apprentice of the healer of Hagenheim castle.  Healers don't marry and as long as Rose can learn to stomach the blood and illness seen daily she thinks she's found the perfect place for herself.  That is until Lord Wilhelm, the Duke's son, is injured while the healer is away.  Forced to care for his wound herself she attracts not only his attention but the attention of his brother, Lord Rupert.  Lord Wilhelm is kind and chivalrous, but has been betrothed since birth to a woman he's never met.  Lord Rupert is flirtatious and has a reputation with women.  Being apprentice to the healer won't solve her problems the way she had hoped.

Critical Analysis:  This book attracted me because of the time period.  It's set in 1386 in a time of castles and knights.  It has a great cast of characters including minor characters with their own plots of which I was eager to see the outcome.  Historical romances have always gotten my attention and I really enjoyed this one.  Rose's feelings for each brother and her confusion over her own heart is told in a way that's both beautiful and relatable.  It's a romance with just a touch of mystery and an evil conjurer thrown in for good measure.  I have a hard time sitting still doing one thing for very long, even to read, but I found myself reading this entire book in one sitting without being able to stop.

Book Recommendations With Similar Themes:

1. Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman.  Matilda is a young orphan who is sent to work under Red Peg, the bonesetter, in the 14th century.  Used to a quiet life filled with cleanliness and prayer Matilda isn't ready for the dirty, bloody life she's been thrown into mending bones and bandaging wounds.  But she will learn.

2. Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  In a retelling of Cinderella, Ella goes to the prince's ball and wins over the prince.  It seems amazing and romantic until she's taken into the palace in preparation of the wedding and realizes just what a princess has to do - daily lessons, needlepoint, proper etiquette.  Not only that, but the handsome prince doesn't seem to have a brain in his beautiful head.  Suddenly being a princess doesn't sound like quite so much fun.  Actually, it's downright boring and Ella isn't sure she wants to go through with the marriage.  The only problem is that getting out of the politically arranged marriage is not as easy as she thinks it will be.