Deep Water by Watt Key

Deep Water by Watt Key
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Laurie Hnatiuk for this totally awesome recommendation! Not only is the narration stellar, but I was swept away (get my reference) by the sea dive that went so wrong with Julie Sims and her dad. Her father owns these tanks and is able to get a father-son team of divers to pay 4X the fee for this dive but when the anchor pulls away, Julie, Shane and his awful dad are swept away and must try to survive, will they? I am going to be reading Watt Key's other stories now too! I can't wait!

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Alone by Megan E. Freeman

Alone by Megan E. Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this middle grade novel in verse about a 12 year old girl who is caught alone when she lies to her family. Maddie plans a sleepover with girlfriends and when they can't come, Maddie is left by herself at her grandparents cabin when everyone (her family, friends, community) disappears during an evacuation due to "imminent threat" and as time slips by Maddie and a neighbor's dog, George, try to survive in a new world with no people, no food, and many times no hope. I could not stop turning the pages, hoping for Maddie and George to survive and hopefully make their way back to family.

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The Canton's Edge by Dusti Bowling

The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this Dusti Bowling book and a novel in verse at that!!! Nora's wonderful family has been ripped apart by a random restaurant shooting. As a way to escape their grief and celebrate rock climbing they did as a family, Nora and her Dad explore a canyon but little do they know, they did not prepare for a flash flood to whisk them apart! As Nora tries to find her father she battles scorpions, snakes, poisonings, and even her psychological torment known as the Beast that plagued her after her mother's death. I could not put this book down, I loved the spare yet spine tingling suspense of the language as Nora desperately looks for her father. Nora's journey makes her stronger, makes her want to reconcile with her best friend, return to school and live life like before, will she be able to survive and achieve this. This is a middle school book but YA would love this book as well! A must read!

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The Hunted by Matt de la Pena

The Hunted by Matt de la Pena
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 2nd book in The Living series and I was not disappointed. Matt de la Pena knows how to grab the reader with many issues (survival, deceit, adventure)and genuine fully fleshed teens and adults in a world that has been totally destroyed by a tsunami and an evil company that creates and spreads a deadly virus, Romero virus. Shy comes through as a reluctant hero (dragged by Shoeshine, their guide) and continues to grow in bravery and anger as he and his friends are hunted everywhere they go. Will Shy be able to deliver the duffel bag to the proper authorities? Hang on to your seat for his wild ride- a real nail biter! I can't wait for the 3rd book!!!

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The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacugalupi

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This companion novel to is totally gripping and as much as I totally loved it, the torture many of the characters went through was beyond what any child or adult during a time of war should have to endure!!! I disliked thoroughly what Mahlia, Mouse and any of the child soldiers were put through minute by minute, never knowing if they could be killed even by their own friends, war maggots and/or leaders. Seeing Tool back in this book was awesome, he is so unbelievable and there were many times you just were not sure he would survive this time. The characters of the doctor, Mahlia, Mouse, Tool and Ocho were very well drawn and author Bacigalupi did a terrifyingly good job with the evil characters and there was never a short supply of them. I lost hope alot, can you imagine what it was like for the characters in the Drowned Cities. Mahlia's hope was always being buoyed by recalling her Chinese mother and her teachings about survival because if she didn't constantly think about a better way; she could just abandon hope with all the violence she sees surrounding her. Mahlia is now one of my favorite heroes and so is Tool (I loved him in Ship Breaker too!) with his augment status and his allegiance to no one but himself. Two of my favorite quotes, Dr mahfouz is explaining why the troops keep fighting, "Whe people fight for ideals, no price is too high, and no fight can be surrendered. They aren't fighting for money, or power, or control. Not really. They fight to destroy their enemies. Soeven if they destroy everyhting around them, it is worth it, because they know that they'll have destroyed the traitors."
The boat man they took captive on being forced to take Mahlia, Mouse and Tool down river. "Children with guns, We aren't even people to you."

Highly recommended, just know it is very difficult to read...you will keep thinking about this book again and again and cringing again and again. Unfortunately the author did his research on the child soldiers and what they are forced to endure...


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