The Dead and the Gone

By Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is a companion novel to Life as We Knew It. I thoroughly enjoyed the first novel and was looking forward to the "sequel." I can, without a doubt, say that this novel didn't let me down! Even though this book is marketed for teens, I couldn't help but be enthralled with the story line. Apocalyptic events in novels is a weakness for me (as you can see by my previous reading material).

Just like the companion novel, this story deals with the aftermath of a meteor striking the moon and moving it closer to the earth. This causes mass destruction dealing with flooding, volcanoes, earthquakes and more. The main character of this novel is a teenage boy who is left in charge of his two younger sisters when his mother and father disappear in the damage of the city. The book chronicles their struggles to stay alive and stay together. It is a wonderful story of survival and family and shouldn't be missed!

Similar Novels: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank and The World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Length: 321 Pages

Copyright: 2008

House Rules

By Jodi Picoult

Well, my favorite author has written another novel and has stayed true to her modus operandi. This book, like the other before, deals with a controversial topic and ends with a court battle. I must say, this storyline is getting a little old and even though I love how Picoult deals with the emotional end of everything. I have to admit, I guessed the outcome of the novel in the first 100 pages. The topic for this book deals with Asperger's Syndrome. For those of you who don't know, Asperger's Syndrome is a form of high functioning autism. The main character in this novel believes her son developed the syndrome after a series of vaccinations. However, the autism and vaccination link is not the topic of the court battle.

A devoted mother, Emma, finds herself in unfamiliar territory after one of her sons is arrested for murder. Emma refuses to believe her oldest child has the capacity to commit murder. Her son has Asperger's Syndrome and what seems normal to Emma (refusing to socialize, no eye contact, and body ticks) looks like a sign of guilt to law enforcement. This novel shows how a simple diagnosis for one child becomes a lifetime of adjustments for the entire family.

Similar Novel: The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty

Copyright: March 2010

Length: 532 pages