Scorch

Scorch by Gina Damico 332 pages

This is the sequel to Croak.  Lex, still reeling from her sister, Cordy’s, death, would like to just get on with her job as a Grim, releasing souls for her partner to cull, so that the soul can be sent to the afterlife.  However, she also has to deal with the fact that most of the town’s Seniors (the older, established Grims) seem to hate her and the rest of the Juniors (Grims in training).  The Seniors believe that the Juniors are helping Zara, who was a Junior and has turned traitor.  She is killing criminals and keeping them from joining the afterlife, so that their souls will never find peace.  Lex and the rest of the Juniors are trying to figure out how to stop Zara, but the Seniors, who have found a way to block Lex’s Uncle Mort, also the mayor, from protecting the Juniors.  These books are actually kind of funny, despite the fact that they deal with death.  Teen fans of supernatural type books, especially fans of Heather Brewer and MaryJanice Davidson, will probably enjoy the series.