25.) Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

“Maybe this was how you stayed sane in wartime: a handful of noble deeds amid the chaos. ”

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (Simon Pulse, 2009)
(Leviathan, Book 1)

Genre: Science Fiction, Steam Punk, Modern Fantasy

Honors: Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book (2010), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers (2010), Queensland Premier's Literary Awards Nominee for Young Adult Book Award (2010), Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee (2011), Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction (2009) Aurealis Award for Young Adult Novel (2009), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2013) [Honors Information found at Goodreads.com]

Review: Deryn Sharp has dreamed of serving in the British Air Service on an animal flying ship. The only thing stopping her is that fact that she is a girl. So she disguises herself as a boy and finds herself serving on the Leviathan one of the largest ships in the service of the British Empire. Prince Aleksander's parents are assassinated setting off a series of events that will lead the world into WWI, the Prince though has the power to stop the war and bring peace if he can safely reclaim the throne. All he has to do is stay alive until then, something that his enemies are trying very hard to prevent. The two young adults stories converge on the slopes of the Swiss Alps where Aleksander and Deryn must help each other, Aleksander with his machines and Deryn with her animal hybrids and together they create a unique bond that can save the world from war, that is if they can survive long enough to do so.

Opinion: One of the best steam punk books I have read, although the underline story is a little cliche I really enjoyed the idea of the Darwinist. I listened to this on audio read by Alan Cummings, and was impressed with the narration, but was having trouble with some of the descriptions and I found out later that the book has illustrations accompanying the story, so this is one I wish I would have read rather then listen to. The story has two sequels already so I think I might read those rather then listen to the audio versions. 

Ideas: Other fans of Westerfeld's work (Uglies, Peeps, etc) might also like to venture into the steam punk world with this book. Also anyone interested in Steam Punk, I think that very few teen authors have done such an steam punk saturated world such as Leviathan. Science Fiction or fantasy fans would probably like this book.

Map on the inside flap.

One of the many illustrations that help you wrap your head around the vivid descriptions in this book. Something you might miss if you listen to the audiobook.

24.) Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

“Without a filter, a man is just chaos walking.”

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Candlewick, 2009)
(Chaos Walking, Book 1)

Genre: Fantasy, Modern Fantasy, Romance


Honors: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (2008), Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production Honor (2011), James Tiptree Jr. Award (2008), Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2010), YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (2011) [Honors Information found at Goodreads.com]

Review: On a new planet, in a settlement colony, after a war with the native planet dwellers who released a disease that killed all the women and made all the men telepathic Todd is only months away from going through the coming of age ceremony that makes him a "man." Todd was too young to remember any of the war, but after his mother and father died he was raised by two men, and now they try and save his life by sending him away and allowing him to discover that his whole life everything he ever knew was a lie. 

Opinion: One of my favorite books that I read for this assignment. This book ripped my heart out of my chest and stuffed in back in again about four or five times throughout the story. This was one of the most mature teen books that I have ever read. The themes are very deep, I think that any adult would get intellectual satisfaction from reading this book as would any teen. I can't wait for the sequel.

Ideas: I would recommend this book to any teen who likes science fiction, or even post apocalyptic novels because even though it's set on another planet it has that feeling. Hunger Games fans might like this book. 

13.) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

“But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.”

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006) (first published 1932)

Genre: Science Fiction, Classic

Honors: ALA's Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of (2011), Modern Library's 5th 100 Best English-language novels of the 20th century (1999), The Observer's #53 Top 100 Greatest Novels of All Time (2003) [Honors Information found at Goodreads.com]

Review: Far in the future society has made creating human beings into a very accurate scientific procedure. There are no more families, no mothers, no fathers, everything is done in a factory. Sex is a favorite and un-taboo pastime.  But loner Bernard Marx is different from the rest and after finally catching the eye of his lover interest Lenina he takes her to visit a savage reservation where they discover a naturally born human, John. He comes back with them but cannot adjust to the sexual freedom and lack of religion in this brave new world. 

Opinion: A great cautionary tale of living life in moderation: a world with too much science is not good, and a life with too much religion is just as bad. It's a classic so many teens might be required to read it for their classes, but regardless its still a very interesting and thought provoking book.

Ideas: Good book to give a student who is especially gifted and likes dystopian type science fiction. Also would make a good addition to a banned book display.

10.) Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien

 
"The last page of all was 'Z is for Zachariah,' and since I knew that Adam was the first man, for a long time I assumed that Zachariah must be the last man."
 
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien (Simon Pulse 2007) (Originally published 1974)

Genre: Science Fiction

Honors: Edgar Award for Best Juvenile (1976) [Honors Information found at Goodreads.com]

Review: Written in a dairy style narrative the story is about Anne who lives alone  on her family farm after a nuclear holocaust has killed everyone outside of the valley she lives in. She literally thinks she is the last human on the face of the earth. That is until one day she sees someone coming towards her in a radiation proof suit. It turns out to be a man who soon becomes very ill from radation sickness. Anne nurses him back to health but quickly discovers that there are more dangers out there then radiation.

 
Opinion: The book is a little old. The main premises is very timeless, but someone of the thoughts and actions from Anne are very old fashioned. Most of the story is monotonous, her farming, her cleaning, etc. But the thrilling parts are very good and move the story along quickly. 

Ideas: A good book to give to science fiction readers, especially if they are girls (might hard to find a lot of science fiction with female leads, Hunger Games notwithstanding). Also a good book for teens who like to read a diary/journal style narrative. 
                    

One of the many covers since its publication

1.) Maximum Ride Manga Series

Maximum Ride Manga Volumes 1-6
Written by James Patterson, Drawn by NaRae Lee (Yen Press; 1st edition 2009)

Genre: Science Fiction, Manga/Graphic Novel

Honors: ALA Teens' Top Ten (2005) (for the series not the manga)

Review: Based on the best selling book series by the same name, Korean artist NaRae Lee brings these characters to life Managa-style. The series is about a group of young children ranging from six years old to Max, the oldest, who is 14. Orphaned and relying on each other, they are avian-human hybrids. They have hallow bones, air sacs, and of course wings, though they appear for all intents and purposes completely human (they can conceal their wings under clothes). The stories starts out many years after they have already escaped the experimentation facility where they were created. After years of peace and quiet the facility, what they have deemed "The School" has began hunting them. They must flee their home and from other creations called Erasers (Lupine-human hybrids), and try to find out why they are being hunted. On top of that a mysterious voice is talking in her head Max, the defacto leader of the group, and telling her that she is on a mission to save the world, but she doesn't know from what or who.

Opinion: It's an American manga, it is completely in manga style but read left to right. I think that would be a plus for anyone starting out reading manga. These are fun on their own, but would also make great companions to any reader who loved the original novels. I actually started reading these because I was having a hard time picturing some of the things from the original, and thought that a graphic novel who be greatly beneficial. There is only 6 volumes out right now, but the seventh will be out at the end of October 2013.

Ideas: This is a great book for any teens who wants to read a manga set in America, or if they want a scifi manga. It's also good for people like me who read the actual novels and wanted to see the story visually represented. Great as in a Manga/Graphic Novel display.