Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Best Teen Books of 2012: In the Here and Now (page 4)

Here's a wealth of excellent books that explore the here and now, some just-the-facts-ma'am realistic and some more fantastical--pick and choose what you like.


Cover art for AFTER ELI
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 14, 2012

"Far more than a summer romance, this is a tribute to those left behind. (Fiction. 11-15)"
Daniel (E.) Anderson looks back on the summer he fell in love and finally came to terms with his soldier brother's death. Read full book review >
Cover art for GIRL OF NIGHTMARES
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 7, 2012

"Pulse-pounding thrills leavened with laughter. (Paranormal thriller. 12 & up)"
A satisfying conclusion to ghostly Anna's terrifying story comes with more heart-thumping suspense and clever quips as Cas tries to save her from an undeserved, dreadful fate. Read full book review >
Cover art for BETWEEN YOU & ME
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 7, 2012

"Though hamstrung by a depressingly chick-lit-y cover, this total-immersion emotional experience is one readers will both recognize and thoroughly enjoy. (Fiction. 12 & up)"
A girl in love with the theater tells the story of her first great love in the form of a script. Read full book review >
Cover art for A WORLD AWAY
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 17, 2012

"Simply lovely. (Fiction. 12 & up)"
This sensitive debut grabs hearts right away and doesn't let go. Read full book review >
Cover art for MOONBIRD
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 17, 2012

"Meticulously researched and told with inspiring prose and stirring images, this is a gripping, triumphant story of science and survival. (photographs, source notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 10 & up)"
As he did in The Race to Save the Lord God Bird (2004), Hoose explores the tragedy of extinction through a single bird species, but there is hope for survival in this story, and that hope is pinned on understanding the remarkable longevity of a single bird. Read full book review >
Cover art for BURN MARK
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 19, 2012

"This smart, stylish series opener raises the bar for paranormal fiction, leaving readers impatient for the next installment. (author's note) (Urban fantasy. 12 & up)"
Crime noir meets paranormal romance in this addictive thriller about two London teens in whom the fae awakens, conferring abilities at once exhilarating and harshly stigmatized. Read full book review >