The Power of Six, by Pittacus Lore

Plot spoiler if you haven't read I Am Number Four!

My name is Marina, as of the Sea, but I wasn't called that until much later.  In the beginning I was known merely as Seven, one of the nine surviving Garde from the planet Lorien, the fate of which was, and still is, left in our hands.

Marina, John and the other seven Gardes were six years old when they arrived on Earth.  It took a year to travel from Lorien to Earth.  In order for the charm to work to protect themselves, the Garde separated.  Marina and her Cêpan eventually traveled to Spain, finding refuge in Santa Teresa convent.  Eleven years have passed.  When Marina turns 18 years old, she can either stay and join the sisters in the convent, or leave and find her way on her own.  Marina has five months.

For the past five years, Marina has been begging her Cêpan, Adelina, to leave Santa Teresa.  In September, Marina received her third scar, the third warning that another Garde has died.  The Mogadorians are hunting each member of the Garde, killing them in order.

Six members of the Garde are left now.  And the eyes of the Mogadorians are everywhere.

Marina's Cêpan has given up hope for Lorien.  Adelina is meant to help and assist in developing Marina's Legacies.  She feels the mission was doomed from the start; it would be impossible to defeat the Mogadorians and take back Lorien.

"It's all one big fairy tale, Marina."

Marina has been following news stories from Paradise, Ohio.  John and Henri Smith are accused of being terrorists, but Marina suspects that John could be a member of the Garde.  But how can Marina hope to find John when the whole world is looking for him, too?

Be safe and stay hidden, I think.  We'll find each other yet.

John and Sam are on the run.  They are considered a threat to national security and the FBI is offering a $100,000 for information about John, $250,000 if someone brings him in.  Six is with them as they hide in a hotel to recover from their injuries.  Their biggest priority is to find the others and train together.

Six shares with them that the Mogadorians have a cave in West Virginia. 

"No, I can't believe that this whole thing is real.  That you're real or that Six is real, or that a hostile race of aliens has scattered themselves across the planet and nobody seems to know it."

Each member of the Garde has an Inheritance, their Chest.  The moment they die, the Chest unlocks itself and everything inside it disintegrates.  It's one of the most important things that John, Six and Marina need to protect.  It's also one of the things that John and Six need to find.

Was there a second ship that left Lorien with 15 Chimaera, 3 Cêpans and a baby?  Can John and Sam find the missing chests?  Can Six find Marina in Spain?  Will they find others?  Will they find Sam's dad?  The Power of Six is an action-packed, exciting read!  I can't wait for the third book!

Rating:  10 out of 10 stars
* some language

To check this book out at NOLS, click HERE!

 

The Luck of the Buttons, by Anne Ylvisaker (2011)

Tugs Button darted past Zip's Hardware, stumbled over the lunch specials sign at Al and Irene's Luncheonette, and pushed through the door of Ward's Ben Franklin as if the devil himself were chasing her.

It isn't easy being a Button.  Family always comes first in this clumsy, luckless family. 

Tugs Ester Button lives in a small Iowa town called Goodhue.  In 1929, this town is so small it doesn't even have a local newspaper anymore.  No one is even surprised about this until a stranger comes to town.

"Harvey Moore, bringing progress to Iowa one town at a time." 

Tugs isn't too sure about Mr. Moore.  The longer he stays in Goodhue, the more suspicious Tugs becomes.

Twelve year old Tugs is an only child, but her family insists she always play with her 11-year old cousin, Ned.  This includes the most important event of the year: three-legged race at the Independence Day celebration. 

And popular Aggie Millhouse wants to be her friend.  Aggie wants to be Tugs's partner in the three-legged race.  She even invited Tugs to her birthday party.

"Are you sure you're invited?" whispered Mother Button as Tugs laced her boots.

Tugs's one place of comfort is in the public library, where she looks up words in the enormous dictionary on a small table on a high pedestal.  Miss Lucy, the librarian, is the most exotic person Tug has ever known.

"The Independence Day patriotic essays are due tomorrow," Miss Lucy said.  "How is yours coming?"

Tugs writes about President Hoover and progress.  As soon as she finishes her essay, she feels shy and drops it in the trash can, hoping Miss Lucy will fetch it from the can.

When Tugs sees an advertisement for the Independence Day Picnic Raffle, she realizes she really wants a brand new Brownie Camera.

"It's the best raffle prize ever, if you ask me."

Tugs's luck begins to change.  First, she and Aggie win the three-legged.  Then she wins the essay contest.  And finally she wins one of the cameras. 

Can you really change your luck?  Is it worthwhile to hope for something better?  Is Tugs a likeable person?  Can one 12-year old girl stop something terrible from happening to the people of Goodhue?  The Luck of the Buttons is a delightful read.  You cannot read this book and NOT cheer out loud for Tugs Button!  ☺

Rating:  10 out of 10 stars

This book is not at NOLS...yet!

The Dark and Hollow Places, by Carrie Ryan (2011)

The city used to be something once.  I've seen pictures of the way it gleamed - sun so bright off windows it could burn your eyes.

Winter.  Dark City, once known as New York City, is dying. 

Annah lives in Dark City, waiting for Elias' return.  He's been gone for three long years with the Recruiters.  Annah is a survivor in a dangerous place.  Annah is covered with physical and emotional scars.

It's haunted me.  Tormented me.  It's who I am:  the girl who left her sister behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Catcher finds Annah in Dark City. 

"Because I promised Elias I'd find you," he finally says.

He has brought Gabry with him.

When Gabry and Catcher travelled to Dark City, they passed a horde, awakening thousands and thousands of Mudo.  Unconsecrated.  Plague rats.  Catcher and Gabry hurried to Dark City to save Annah from the horde.  Millions of plague rats are about to overtake the city.

Catcher is Immune, and the Recruiters need him for their survival.  Catcher can gather supplies and food for the inhabitants on Sanctuary.

"Remember this:  Catcher is what matters.  You're just ancillary to that end."

Annah finds the map room, what's left of the world.  Black push pins mean there's nothing; overrun by the dead. 

I stare at the wall, eyes traveling from pin to pin.  Almost all of them are black.  "That can't be right," I say.  The entire country - the entire world - is covered with black pins.

Annah is filled with questions.  What makes us alive?  What is the difference between the living and the Unconsecrated? 

"That's the question, isn't it?  What's life and what's existence?"

Carrie Ryan's third book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth series is equally as exciting as the others.  The relationships the characters have, the morals they follow will resonate with most young adults.  The imagery is, as always, absolutely delicious.  The scene where Annah is in the subway tunnels at the end of the book is gripping.

Rating:  10 out of 10 stars
*violence, religion

To check this book out at NOLS, click HERE!