The Unidentified by Rae Mariz YP FIC MARIZ

In the not too very distant future Katey AKA Kid goes to school in the Game, a mall turned into a school by corporate sponsors. Basically a real world Facebook, kids are used to create and test new products and everyone is connected, networked, and watched 24/7, but don’t worry as Kid says herself, “We like the attention.” But when a corporate sponsor ‘brands’ Kid and she meets a group of social outcasts called the Unidentified, she starts to question if her identity is for sale. When she starts to get more involved with the Unidentified and their mysterious leader she puts herself in the middle of a conflict larger than she ever dreamed.

This is a SPOT ON look at the obsession with virtual connectedness, the obsession with fitting in, and consumer culture. Anyone that has spent hours at a time on Facebook or MySpace while texting friends at the same time should be truly freaked by this book. The plot has plenty of twists and suspense, but the real draw is the bizarre world of the Game and the ways it resembles our current tech and brand obsession, but this book isn’t technology phobic. Kid and her friends use technology themselves to express themselves and find ways to get back at the Game. this is Mariz’s first book for teens, but hopefully we’ll see many more. The Unidentified is a rare book that can look at problems with society AND have realistic human characters that the reader cares about. Check it out, then ‘Like’ it on Facebook, tweet about it, and text all your friends about how cool it is!

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri YP FIC NAYERI

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri is a modern retelling of the Faustian bargain (selling your soul). In it five children from all over the world disappear in the same night. The only thing they have in common is a desire to change their lives at any cost. They all return five years later with a beautiful and mysterious governess, Madame Viceroy and have strange gifts. They can steal, lie, cheat, and manipulate almost like magic. Soon they are the most powerful and popular kids in their exclusive high school, but Madame Viceroy find ways to turn the five against each other and they have to make new bargains to increase their powers. Will they sell their souls to rule the school?

This is a fun and exciting read that has a strong cast and some very surprising twists. It seems to drag a bit in the middle but picks up nicely for the end. the ending leave it open enough for a sequel and I think this could become a hot new series so jump in now and be the start of the trend.

A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff (from the Bluford High Series)

A Matter of Trust, written by Anne E. Schraff, focuses on Darcy Wills, a high school student, who helps take care of her grandmother with her younger sister, while her mother works overnight at the local Emergency Room. Darcy was once close friends with Brisana Meeks, who stopped being her friend when Darcy started hanging out with Tarah, Copper, and Hakeem. Brisana sees these new friends are losers, and Darcy is missing out on a more popular high school experience. Darcy has been seeing Hakeem, who often gets made fun of by the other students because he stutters. When Brisana finds out that they are dating she tries to make Darcy jealous.

A Matter of Trust examines the trust we can or cannot place in people. Darcy is not only grappling with the drama started by a former friend but also trying to figure out if she can forgive her father, who walked out on her life when she was younger. Based on his track record she isn’t sure she can place her trust in him. The story also addresses violence acts, including fighting and a drive-by shooting.

The Bluford High Series focuses on the lives of high school students, their family, and friends in contemporary urban America. Many of the characters attend Bluford High School, which is named after Guion “Guy” Bluford, who was the first African-American astronaut. The stories focus on complicated issues that are relevant to many of today’s students, including love, friendship, family, peer pressure, violence, and jealousy. The series has male and female protagonist, who are primarily African-American, and contain elements of mystery, suspense, and romance.

The Bluford High Series is new to the Moore Memorial Public Library. Currently the library has nine of the fifteen books that have been published to date. Anne E. Schraff and Paul Langan are the authors. The books are located on the New Book Shelf area, but will eventually be located in the Young Adult section of the library. A Matter of Trust is the second book in the series. The following books in the series are currently available:

Books by Anne E. Schraff
Someone to Love Me
Until We Meet Again
A Matter of Trust
Secrets in the Shadows
Lost and Found

Books by Paul Langan
Payback
The Bully
Brothers in Arms
Summer of Secrets

Breaking Point / by Alex Flinn

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Paul Richmond thinks nobody has it as bad as he does as he begins a new year at the prestigious Gate-Bucknell Christian School, a place he's only attending because his mom works in the counselor's office. It's been over a year since he and mom were "dumped" by Paul's dad, who must be doing so well with his new girlfriend, Melanie, that he hasn't even had time to return Paul's hundred or so phone calls.

Well, David Blanco might have it worse. Everyone knows, especially the torcherous rich-kid clique, that David is only at Gate-Bucknell because his mom works in the cafeteria and his father is a janitor, making him a defacto victim during all waking hours. David's learned not to trust anyone; paranoia fueling his seemingly permanent animosity, exemplified when Paul receives a somber "you'll be next" in response to his awkward attempts at consolation.

Paul is next as almost overnight things change; David is suddenly left alone at school and Charlie Good, elitest of the elite clique, tries to get to know Paul. Charlie's not only rich, well-known and a tennis ace, he's even liked by teachers. Soon Paul starts hanging out with Charlie on a routine basis, even accompanying him on some prankish endeavors. All in good fun though. Or is it? Things become suddenly serious when Charlie and his entourage start planning a most diabolical plot, one that's not only dangerous but deadly.

The Chocolate War / by Robert Cormier

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Despite being new student and freshman at an all-boys high school, Jerry Reinault knows better than to mess with the well-known—but unofficial—student power structure, The Vigils. Everyone’s aware that it’s this “organization”, headed by wise-guy Archie Costello, which begets hierarchy, maintains “order” and doles out responsibilities, essentially relegating underclassmen and outsiders to otherwise thankless tasks of school fundraisers. Now that the annual chocolate sale has essentially doubled its quota, everyone has to work just a little extra, everyone except the stubbornly obstinate Jerry that is. While Jerry’s stern refusal to participate is only uncomfortable at first, his sustained defiance in the face of increasingly hazardous circumstances soon culminates in an all-out war, one in which it seems Jerry has no other choice but to surrender his will to The Vigils' or suffer the brutal consequences.
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Cormier’s publication of Chocolate War in 1974 had an immediate and lasting impact, firmly setting him up as one of YA’s capstone authors. Though the premise of the novel may seem outdated or overblown, the focus of the story's not so much about what’s going on as it is about the internal motivations of the characters and the impending potential for disaster. Still mourning his mother's death from cancer, Jerry’s nonconformist resolution stems from a need to know his actions have meaning, that power and authority (to at least some degree) is possible by his own initiative. Conversely Archie, though driven by an obvious lust for power, also seeks fulfillment through personal enterprise, a manifestation of broader events sprung by his own influence of control. Those unfamiliar with how serious things can get at an all male school may be a little off put by the scenario, but readers won’t have a problem gravitating towards Cormier’s mastery of characterization and accurate depiction of mob-rule mentality.