American Omens by Travis Thrasher

    Twenty years in our future, the world's leaders have outlawed Christianity. Christian leaders have been disappearing quietly without a trace.  A group has researched these happenings and is determined to bring these sinister happenings into the light. Centering around a genius searching for her father, a lost celebrity, an assassin searching for his life, and a dad from a history of lies, their stories merge all based on one person. The Reckoner is ready to make his announcement.

    I enjoyed the references to the 2010s culture and technology. The descriptions of how technology changed from present day to Thrasher's designed world helped add to the reality he was trying to create, which made it believable to me as a reader. Other references to the past such as Bible stories or even 1800s or 1900s famous people helped remind the audience that even though the story was in the future, its past was the same as ours.

    However, I had a hard time getting excited about the plot. It was slow, disjointed, and confusing. I felt like I was left guessing even after the book ended. It was not the suspense filled chase I was expecting and hoping for. There could have been more close calls to give it that feeling of peril. With so many characters, the depth to the characters or growth throughout the story was missing for me.

(I received this book for free from Waterbrook/Multnomah in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion after reading the book.)

Kalahari by Jessica Khoury

I went into this story excited to get my hands on one of Khoury's books, and she did not disappoint.  I was primarily excited because I actually attended the same college as she did, which is saying something because it is a small private college that very few people know of.  I saw her speak at one of our campus events several years ago after she graduated, and I have been aspiring to have a similar career someday.

The Kalahari takes you on an adventure to the semi-desert where a family of zoologists is studying the animal population. You find yourself attached to Sarah as the story is from her point of view, and you watch the story unfold as she is separated from her father.  She is left with a bunch of city kids her age who do not know the first thing about surviving in the wilderness when they are left alone without help or anybody they can contact. Soon they discover a white lion and secrets that endanger their lives and countless others.

The first thing that drew me into the book was definitely the plot. It was well thought out and executed with definite plot points that had me reading to find out what would happen next. The characters were also entertaining as very different personalities clashed within the group. Additionally, the detail was gorgeous and not overused. At the end of the book, I was not surprised to find that she had actually gone to the Kalahari, which she mentioned in her acknowledgements. I can definitely see this being used in a classroom to educate children not just on climate and ecosystems, but on several science concepts that were integral to the plot (even with the science fiction woven in there).  I will definitely be looking into her other books and will watch as she publishes more.

Last Descendants (Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants #1) by Matthew J. Kirby

I enjoyed reading this teen fiction story, which is usually a genre that has a hard time keeping my attention.  However, I bought this book at my school book fair and wanted to read it before putting it in my classroom library.  It helped that I enjoyed the Assassin's Creed movie that came out awhile ago.

Basically, the story is about a boy who wants to prove his dad's innocence of a crime even though his dad has already died in prison. An technology worker at his school allows him to get access to the Animus that allows people to go back into their ancestor's memories in a type of virtual reality. However, the boy and his friend find more than they bargain for when they come across something two agencies have been fighting over for hundreds and thousands of years.

Once I got past the first third of the book, the story took off. He did a good job setting and explaining the background; however, it kept him from starting the action and catching his readers' attention within the first few chapters of the book.  I also loved the historical detail present from real-life events; I could see this book or specific passages used in a middle school history class about the civil war.  He also did a good job incorporating diversity within his characters and story through race, disability and other prominent topics in adolescents and society. After reading it, I have decided to put it in my classroom library, but I almost kept it for my own book collection at home.

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games series was a compelling story that I couldn't put down.  It's about a girl named Katniss who lives in a futuristic North America called Panem.  Each of 12 districts are required to give 2 children from the ages of 12 to 18 (one boy and one girl) as "tribute" to the Capitol to play in the Hunger Games.  This "Games" is a fight to the death in a ever changing arena where only one of the total 24 teenagers come out alive and live in glory the rest of their lives.  Unfortunately, Katniss's little sister Primrose is picked as tribute and Katniss volunteers to go in her place.  Katniss's life will never be the same.  The story continues as Katniss's struggle with the Capitol results in revolution.

I found this story line to be intriguing the first time I saw the trailer to the movie.  After seeing the movie, I was pleased with the intense plot.  It was unique with no story like it and that is what drew me to it.  I liked that the hero, Katniss, was portrayed as never striking first when confronted with killing other people.  Only ever in defense did she strike.  I proceeded to read the books and could not stop reading them.  Though I do not condone violence to the extent parents are allowing their kids to see nowadays, I do not think all violence is horrible to watch or read.  Even the Bible contains violence but it has a point, a lesson to be learned.   There is a time and place for everything under the sun.  Everyone must choose for himself how much is okay and where the line is drawn.  What hurts one person's faith may not hurt another but make sure not to put a stumbling block in front of someone else.  You will answer to God for all your choices.


I really think parents need to read the series before allowing their kids to though because topics are discussed that kids and teens might not be aware of and need to talk with their parents about.  I also have heard of parents reading the books with their kids and commend them highly for taking an interest in what their kids are reading.  If parents have no desire to read the series, then they could at least look up somewhere online, as i'm sure there is, a family review that has the issues, disscussed in the books, layed out before them.  This way parents will know exactly what their kids are being subjected to.  I might've been able to do that here except that I am trying hard to omit all spoilers.

I comment on the fact that the light and hope, I usually love reading about in books, is missing from this book series but I guess that is part of the point.  It is cleverly realistic, sickeningly cruel, and depressingly human.  Even the mental stability of one of the main characters declines rapidly in the third book.  So I guess the characters aren't the best role models for anybody but they are human and thus not perfect and that needs to be remembered.

As a side note, I loved how close they stuck to the book when making the movie, unlike how Hollywood has butchered other book series.  I anticipate the making of the next two movies with impatience and can't wait to see them in theaters.