The Hollow Boy

TheHollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud, 385 pages

“As a massive outbreak of supernatural Visitors baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests throughout London, Lockwood & Co. continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. Anthony Lockwood is dashing, George insightful, and Lucy dynamic, while the skull in the jar utters sardonic advice from the sidelines. There is a new spirit of openness in the team now that Lockwood has shared some of his childhood secrets, and Lucy is feeling more and more as if her true home is at Portland Row. It comes as a great shock, then, when Lockwood and George introduce her to an annoyingly perky and hyper-efficient new assistant, Holly Munro. Meanwhile, there are reports of many new hauntings, including a house where bloody footprints are appearing, and a department store full of strange sounds and shadowy figures. But ghosts seem to be the least of Lockwood & Co.'s concerns when assassins attack during a carnival in the center of the city. Can the team get past their personal issues to save the day on all fronts, or will bad feelings attract yet more trouble?” Stroud’s books are always fantastic.  This series is very good.  Teens who like science fiction, supernatural, and action adventure stories need to read it.

The Reluctant Queen

The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst, 360 pages

“Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . . And those spirits want to kill you. It's the first lesson that every Renthian learns. Not long ago, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive those spirits and assume the royal throne. Since then, the new queen has kept the peace and protected the humans of her land. But now for all her power, she is hiding a terrible secret: she is dying. And if she leaves the world before a new heir is ready, the spirits that inhabit her beloved realm will run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people. Naelin is one such person, and she couldn't be further removed from the Queen--and she wouldn't have it any other way. Her world is her two children, her husband, and the remote village tucked deep in the forest that is her home, and that's all she needs. But when Ven, the Queens champion, passes through the village, Naelin's ambitious husband proudly tells him of his wife's ability to control spirits--magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows that if the truth of her abilities is known, it will bring only death and separation from those she loves. But Ven has a single task: to find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. He did it once when he discovered Daleina, and he's certain he's done it again. Yet for all his appeals to duty, Naelin is a mother, and she knows her duty is to her children first and foremost. Only as the Queen's power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened--even as ominous rumors trickle down from the north--does she realize that the best way to keep her son and daughter safe is to risk everything.” Anyone who read the first book in this series will need to read the second book.  It’s nearly as good as the first.  This is also a good fantasy read for teens, although the intended audience is adult.

The Queen Of Blood

The Queen Of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst, 353 pages

“Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . . But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms. With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits' restlessness--a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it's bathed in blood.” This book has an excellent concept and it’s brilliantly executed.  Although this book was written for adults there are plenty of teen fantasy lovers that will want to read it as well.

The Jumbies

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, 234 pages

“Corinne La Mer claims she isn't afraid of anything. Not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and certainly not jumbies. They're just tricksters made up by parents to frighten their children. Then one night Corinne chases an agouti all the way into the forbidden forest, and shining yellow eyes follow her to the edge of the trees. They couldn't belong to a jumbie. Or could they? When Corinne spots a beautiful stranger at the market the very next day, she knows something extraordinary is about to happen. When this same beauty, called Severine, turns up at Corinne's house, danger is in the air. Severine plans to claim the entire island for the jumbies. Corinne must call on her courage and her friends and learn to use ancient magic she didn't know she possessed to stop Severine and to save her island home.” This book is very creepy and I’m sure that kids who like scary stories would love it.  Of course, since the book is for children, I can’t say that I was ever very scared that things wouldn’t work out, but even I had a feeling of misgiving about how they would accomplish it.  It was well written and did a great job of stirring up emotions.  This should be a successful choice for a lot of kids.

Teen Spirit

Teen Spirit by Francesca Lia Block             234 pages

Julie’s life has been pretty decent.  She doesn’t have a lot of friends, but she, her mother, and her grandmother have always been close, and Julie has always felt like that was enough.  When her grandmother dies, everything starts to fall apart.  A week later her mother loses her job and reveals that they are about to lose their house.  They are forced to move to a small apartment and her mother seems to retreat into her own world, leaving Julie feeling completely alone.  She makes one friend at her new school, Clark.  Clark is kind of odd, but really nice.  They become study partners and Julie tells him a little of her story.  One night, she asks him to help her try to contact her grandmother’s spirit.  Julie feels like she is close, but she can’t break through.  Clark reluctantly agrees, and they do contact a spirit, but it isn’t Julie’s grandmother.  It seems they have contacted a more malevolent spirit and Julie and Clark have to figure out how to fix things before the spirit can do irreparable harm.  A good, supernatural, love story, lots of teen fans of ghost stories and romances will like this.