Souhegan Reads!
Summer Reading, 2014
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Four waves of an unspoken horror after an alien
invasion have left Cassie running from anyone and
everyone. To trust is to die, until Cassie meets Evan
Walker. On the dawn of the fifth wave, Evan might
be the only person who can save her brother. But
decisions must be made, and Cassie won’t know if
Evan can be trusted until it’s too late.
(aliens, survival, post-apocalyptic, science fiction, dystopia, horror)
Fiction;
Young Adult
It’s been four years since Judith and her best friend
vanished, and two years since Judith returned;
severely mutilated, with the state of her purity
hanging in the wind. Ostracized by her friends and
family, Judith turns to her writing and her childhood
friend, Lucas, with whom she is deeply in love.
Muted, Judith must endure an attack on her town,
and a decision that will once again change her life
forever. Written in lyrical prose, this novel’s
mysteries don’t unravel until the very last page.
(survival, kidnapping, war, love, abuse, outcasts)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Brutally honest and intensely intriguing, this
classic memoir describes the beliefs and
experiences of Malcolm X. From racial prejudice
to self-respect, Malcolm X details his philosophy
on the reasons behind African Americans’ past,
present, and future positions in society. Outlining
his own spiritual awakening and activist journey,
Malcolm X crafts a memorable piece focused,
above all else, on freedom.
(civil rights, memoir, race, politics, American history)
Nonfiction;
Adult/Young Adult
This is the true story of the University of
Washington’s eight-oar rowing team and their
journey to Olympic gold in Berlin, 1936.
Overcoming the obstacles of being working-class
Americans in the midst of the Great Depression,
the crew found their way to Hitler’s Olympics in
1936, where they defeated team after team. An
inspirational story of grit and determination, this
story describes the losses and victories of a
resilient group of American heroes!
(rowing, Olympics, sports, history, Great Depression)
Nonfiction;
Adult
Follow Buck, a St. Bernard-Scotch Collie dog, as he
gets moved from owner to owner in California and
up to Alaska during the gold rush. The variety of
owners finds Buck experiencing the many
lifestyles a domesticated dog can live, including
that of a sled dog. A 1903 classic, this novel shows
a life of companionship, survival, and a journey
through the wilderness.
(adventure, classics, dogs, Alaska, wolves, survival)
Fiction;
Adult/Young Adult
Thousands of computer programs are benign systems
designed to make technology run smoother, and
humans’ lives easier. Renowned computer game
designer Matthew Sobol knows better than anyone
the power these silent servants possess. Unfortunately
for the world, Sobol’s death brings about more than a
lack of new computer games: it unleashes a daemon, a
computer program that has the power to devastate
society. This futuristic and technology centered novel
will generate more questions than it answers,
including whether or not the daemon is responsible
for the murders cropping up after Sobol’s death.
(thriller, science fiction, technology, cybercrime, hacking)
Fiction;
Adult
Uncontrollable power is more than Ruby asked for
on her tenth birthday. Sent to the ruthless
government camp, Thurmond, Ruby spends the next
six years imprisoned, sheltered, and restricted from
knowledge of the outside. Ruby manages to escape
the camp only to find that the safe haven at East
River for other kids like her is nothing like she
expected. Romance with Liam, a leader at East River,
might be the only thing to keep Ruby sane as her
abilities are put to the test.
(dystopia, paranormal, science fiction, horror, special powers)
Fiction;
Young Adult
The National Guard serving as crowd-control in
Boise, Idaho, is a routine mission for Danny. His
gun misfiring and sparking the second American
Civil War is not. Layered with political questions
and provocative plot, this action-packed story
will describe what happens when the States are
no longer United.
(National Guard, civil war, suspense, Idaho, military)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for
Young Ladies of Quality sure sounds like the
haughty finishing school it’s advertised to be. But
Sophronia learns soon enough that this all-girls
school has a curriculum equally divided between
fine arts and spy warfare. Who knows what
techniques Sophronia and her friends will need
in their first year attending Mademoiselle
Geraldine’s!
(boarding school, espionage, Victorian England, spies)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Simon Snow might be a book series, but to
shy, college freshman Cath, it’s a life-style.
Devoted fan and popular fan-fiction writer,
Cath, must navigate her first college party, first
year away from home, and first love with only
the comfort of her fan-fiction to keep her
going. A heartwarming, contemporary,
“breaking out” story of how to love & leave
favorite characters behind.
(college, fan fiction, romance, sisters, writing)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Most people wish they were “graced- gifted”
with an extreme skill. Katsa just wishes her
grace could be a little more pleasant than
what it is: the ability to kill. Niece to the king,
Katsa is forced into crimes she does not want
to commit, and Prince Po is the one person
that Katsa hopes her terrible secret won’t
affect.
(fantasy, adventure, romance, magic, survival)
Fiction;
Young Adult
When Nobody Owens’ family is murdered, what
better place to find a home than a graveyard? Raised
by ghosts and protected by the supernatural, Bod
has grown up a normal boy with a few abnormal
acquaintances. Dangers and adventures follow him
always, but leaving the graveyard also means that
Jack – his family’s killer – can follow him as well.
Thrilling and mysterious, this story brings out the
best in one of our most beloved writers of magical
fantasy fiction!
(fantasy, horror, ghosts, murder, orphans)
Fiction;
Young Adult
The two most well-respected assassins in the
United States are Will Robie and Jessica Reel.
Equally calculated and equally dangerous, they
have been killing nasty terrorists and enemies for
the government for years. But when Reel goes
rogue, Robie’s one mission is to bring in Reel,
dead or alive. Will Reel’s reasoning for her
betrayal lead Robie astray?
(assassins, conspiracy, CIA, thriller, espionage)
Fiction;
Adult
What happens when the truth is even more
hopeless than the lies? Dean Holder is as much
of a mystery to Sky as she is to him. Both
undeniably captivated by each other, Dean and
Sky slowly spiral deeper into a relationship
where emotions are intense, romantic
chemistry is high, and memories are painful.
This novel questions if ignorance – especially of
first love – truly is bliss.
(romance, self-discovery, abuse, secrets, flashbacks)
Fiction;
Adult/Young Adult
Fulfilling her childhood dreams of escaping a
violent home-life, Amanda Lindhout finds
herself backpacking across Latin America, Laos,
India, Syria, and Sudan. Exploring exotic places
and enduring war-stricken countries like
Afghanistan, Lindhout travels to even more
extreme places like Somalia. It is in Somalia that
Lindhout is kidnapped and held captive for 460
days. In a harrowing true tale of adversity,
survival, and hope, Lindhout describes her
journey to freedom.
(kidnapping, journalists, Somalia, terrorism, memoir)
Nonfiction;
Adult
This is the fascinating history of skateboarding and
its founders. Contrasting its individual and
community attributes, as well as its “outlaw”
reputation and large-company support, this story
highlights the rises and falls within skateboarding.
Fans of history and skateboarding alike will enjoy
hearing about the remarkable innovations of
Rodney Mullen and Ryan Sheckler.
(skateboarding, sports, subculture, athletes, memoir)
Nonfiction;
Adult/Young Adult
In the midst of World War III, fourteen-year-old
Tom Raines doesn’t know if he’s the hero for the
occasion. With the Earth’s natural resources
draining and the solar system’s assets at risk, Tom
is given a spot in the coveted, military training
program at the Pentagonal Spire. For videogamer Tom, life at the Spire is full of new friends,
new spying techniques, and a potential girlfriend.
But what will it cost him?
(gaming, virtual reality, science fiction, warfare, dystopia)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Hetty "Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early
nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond
the suffocating walls that enclose her within the
wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter,
Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do
something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by
the limits imposed on women. Intertwined more than
they know, Handful and Sarah learn how they’re more
similar than different, eventually taking their place as
abolitionists and feminists. Taking a deeper look into the
life of historical figure Sarah Grimke, Kidd provides a
deeper understanding of wealth, freedom, and life.
(slavery, abolitionists, women’s rights, Quakers, historical fiction)
Fiction;
Adult
A lot can happen in just one day. When Allyson
“LuLu” Healey – an American teen on vacation
in Europe – attends an outdoor performance
of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, she and a
handsome Dutch actor recognize an intense
spark, and travel to Paris for just one day. But
can their connection survive the next year,
when the expectations forgotten on their one
day spent together come rushing back in?
(college, travel, romance, Shakespeare, Paris)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Carl Mørck was one of Copenhagen’s finest detectives.
But when a hail of bullets destroys the lives of two
fellow officers, Carl blames himself. Unsure he’ll ever
work again, Carl is surprised to discover he’s been
“promoted” to Department Q. The city needs someone
to crack some of their coldest cases, and Carl is assigned
to the job. Can a promising politician still be alive, five
years after her abduction? Carl and his quirky side-kick
are about to find out! An international best-seller
reminiscent of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, this
novel ties in humor, dark events, and one genius
detective!
(crime, mystery, kidnapping, Denmark, police, cold cases)
Fiction;
Adult
Four days amid the American Civil War is not
nearly enough time to express the determination
and loss of both the North and the South. But
Shaara comes close. With dramatic battles and
vivid memories, this Pultizer Prize-winning novel
encompasses the lives of soldiers fighting for
different causes in our nation’s bloodiest war.
(Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg, military, Pulitzer Prize, history)
Fiction;
Adult
Meet Hampton, linebacker and star of the Kennisaw
Knights in Oklahoma. This small town football team
has big-game magic – the Knights have been
undefeated for four straight seasons. While pressure
to win is nothing new to Hampton, new pressures
during the fifth season start to distract him from the
game he loves. From dealing with his mom’s
boyfriend, to struggling with a teammate and best
friend who is taking the game too far, Hampton fights
for his legacy on and off the field.
(football, sports, individuality, acceptance, coming of age)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Lou Clark is comfortable just where she is. In her
twenties and working at the small tea shop in a British
village, Lou has no desire to fulfill the big plans her
parents have for her. When the tea shop goes out of
business, Lou figures that taking care of an old man in a
wheelchair will be another comfortable – or at least
easy – job to take. No one informed her that Will
Traynor is actually in his thirties, paralyzed from the
waist down, and suicidal. A captivating story of love and
motivation, this novel transforms the meaning of living.
(disability, quadriplegic, romance, England, assisted suicide)
Fiction;
Adult
Rule-abiding, straight-A junior Julia is not
supposed to be paired with dare-devil jokester,
Jason, on the school trip to London. She is not
supposed to enjoy a wild party that ends in
texts from a secret admirer. And she is not
supposed to grow closer to Josh on their
whirlwind trip to discover the admirer’s identity.
But does Julia really know what is meant to be?
(study abroad, romance, London, field trip, Shakespeare)
Fiction;
Young Adult
With most fantastical monarchies, the young
hero organizes a rebellion that causes the
empire to fall. The Lord Ruler’s empire is not
one of them. A thousand years of this
oppression and the people are itching for
salvation. Can one brilliant criminal – a street
urchin and unlikely heroine with the power of
a Mistborn – save them all?
(fantasy, magic, epic, adventure, intrigue)
Fiction;
Adult
Drawing from actual journal entries and firsthand knowledge, Sam Keith tells the story of how
Richard Proenneke came to live off the Alaskan
land. A combination of daily chores, survival
tactics, and pure outdoors, this true story
explains the harmony that can be achieved
between man and nature. Join Proenneke’s
transformation into a self-sufficient craftsman
with the beautiful Alaskan wilderness as his only
company.
(Alaska, pioneers, nature, wilderness survival, Kodiak Island)
Nonfiction;
Adult
Marina Keegan had just graduated magna cum
laude from Yale in 2012, and was headed to a job
at the New Yorker, when she died tragically in a
car accident on Cape Cod. Her life may have
ended too short, but her intellect and beliefs are
preserved in this posthumous collection of essays
and stories. Including her Yale commencement
speech, The Last Lecture, Marina’s words remind
us of life’s opportunities, and the potential in all
of us to make a difference in the world.
(college, writing, posthumous, aspirations, making a difference)
Nonfiction;
Adult/Young Adult
A soccer team gains a global perspective when its small
town becomes a refugee settlement. In the 1990’s,
Clarkston, Georgia, started to take in war refugees from
Iraq, Liberia, Sudan, and beyond. To keep children off the
street, a soccer team was formed, bringing friendly
competition, success, and hope into the lives of the
“Fugees.” An uplifting true tale of humanity’s goodness,
this story shows the world how multiple cultures can live
in harmony. Available in both Adult and *YA versions –
choose either one!
(refugees, soccer, Georgia, survival, inspiration)
Nonfiction;
Adult/Young Adult
Special agent Joe Ledger has plenty of skills – and
now, with zombies on the loose, he has plenty of
enemies. Recruited to the Department of Military
Sciences (DMS), Ledger and his team must figure
out how to stop a bio-weapon that is turning
innocent people into zombies. Terrorists are
abundant and answers are insufficient; can Ledger
stop the disease before it infects the world?
(thriller, bio-terrorism, zombies, military, horror)
Fiction;
Adult
Peer pressure is a powerful thing. Eight years
previously, Anne Elliot broke off her
engagement with the humble naval officer,
Frederick Wentworth, because of a friend’s
comments. Regret follows Anne as her family’s
wealth declines, and Wentworth’s sister living
on the Elliot estate is a constant reminder of her
mistakes. Will the return of a now rich and
successful Frederick Wentworth reignite what
once was lost?
(romance, England, 19th century, classic literature, social class)
Fiction;
Adult
In Sloane’s world, teen suicide is the problem,
and the Program is the solution. Already
grieving over her brother’s suicide, Sloane must
do everything she can to keep her boyfriend
and herself out of the Program. A struggle of
loss, this novel challenges society when the
characters wonder if it really is better to forget.
(dystopia, suicide, brainwashing, suspense, mental illness)
Fiction;
Young Adult
A call regarding her daughter, Amelia’s, alleged
cheating is shocking enough for Kate Baron; but
then a call about Amelia’s suicide? Grief,
confusion, and a mysterious note lead Kate to
believe that there is more to Amelia’s death than
what the police and ritzy private school are telling
her. Digging to the bottom of Amelia’s case will
release painful information on her daughter’s
bullies and friends. But she needs to know; was it
suicide, or something more sinister?
(bullying, private school, suicide, mystery, mothers & daughters)
Fiction;
Adult
Darrow thinks “Helldiver” is a suitable term for him
and his people, the workers that mine underneath
Mars’ surface. They’re working for a greater cause,
says the government; their hard work will pay off
when Mars’ surface can become habitable for the
humans still living on a fragile Earth. But then Darrow
learns the government is lying – that people called the
Golds are already living on the lush surface of Mars,
and are allowing the Helldivers to suffer as slaves. The
rebellion is swelling to a crescendo when Darrow joins
in, and who knows the price they will pay for their
freedom!
(Mars, social class, dystopia, science fiction, colonization)
Fiction;
Adult/Young Adult
In this futuristic, action-packed sequel to Cinder,
Marissa Meyer will draw in her audience once again
with new characters that have the power to save the
world. Meet Scarlet, a French girl living in the countryside with her grandmother, whose life takes a turn for
the worse when her grandmother goes missing.
Encountering the street fighter, Wolf, Scarlet finds that
their chemistry might be able to bring her
grandmother home. Of course, this plan becomes even
more complicated when she learns her connection to
the world’s most wanted fugitive, cyborg Lin Cinder.
New characters, new places, and a new plan will bring
Cinder and her team closer to defeating Lunar Queen
Levana, and saving Prince Kai!
(Little Red Riding Hood, cyborgs, science fiction, Lunar Chronicles #2)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Childless couple Jack and Mabel are feeling much like the
Alaskan landscape in which they’re living: cold, lonely,
and empty. In the winter of 1920, they build a child out of
snow, and for one afternoon they are lightened by the
hope of first snow. But the next morning, their snow child
is gone; and blonde-haired Faina appears running in the
woods. The little girl and her hunting fox seem to be selfsufficient in the Alaskan wilderness, but Jack and Mabel
take her in as their own daughter. Now only the discovery
of Faina’s secret can change the family brought together
by snow and destiny.
(Alaska, homesteading, magical realism, family, Pulitzer Prize nominee)
Fiction;
Adult
In this dystopian world, superheroes are real;
they are also violent dictators ruling over the
ordinary human population. The Epics and
their invincible leader, Steelheart, have only a
shadow group of ordinary humans called the
Reckoners to stop them. And once David – with
a thirst for revenge – joins the Reckoners, there
is little that will stop them from putting the
Epics back in their place.
(dystopia, science fiction, superpowers, assassins)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Originally published in 1929, this novel’s wisdom
translates even in today’s ever-changing world. Harry
Haller is an intellectual who has lost meaning in his life.
Happening upon a pamphlet titled “Treatise on the
Steppenwolf,” Harry finds his struggle between rational
man and animalistic wolf expressed in one publication.
Meeting Hermine changes his life even more, when the
carefree and elusive woman takes him to places in the
city he never would have sought out – least of all, The
Magic Theater – which will transform his life forever.
(existentialism, modernism, German literature, philosophy, classics)
Fiction;
Adult
Follow the recovery of the man who became the face
of the Boston Marathon Bombing victims.
Photographed being wheeled to an ambulance
moments after the first blast on April 15th, 2013, Jeff
Bauman woke up the next day with no legs and no
idea why anyone would target his city. His memory of
the bomber’s face and the blasts themselves would
become crucial in the FBI’s search for the terrorists.
One year later, through love, hope, and determination,
Bauman is walking again, and in this memoir shows
the world what “Boston Strong” really means!
(Boston Marathon bombing, memoir, terrorism, survival, resilience)
Nonfiction;
Adult
When teenage actor, Graham, sends an email
regarding his pet pig to the wrong person, he
does not expect anyone to reply – least of all a
girl named Ellie, who has no clue of his fame. As
the emails continue and their last names remain
unknown, Ellie and Graham begin to fall for
each other; if only they recognized each other
when Graham’s next movie is shot in Ellie’s
town! A witty read, this book will question
whether destiny can work her magic in a coastal
Maine town.
(summer, romance, movie stars, Maine, small town)
Fiction;
Young Adult
The world record for longest kiss is thirty-two
hours, and it is held by two, seventeen-year-old exboyfriends. In a beautiful tribute to past, present,
and future LGBT teens, David Levithan writes of
the excruciating and elated hours when Harry and
Craig become a focal point in the lives of other
teen boys dealing with long-term relationships,
coming out, and navigating gender identity.
(coming out, LGBTQ, family, relationships, Nat’l Book Award nominee)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Even beautiful Beechwood Island cannot disguise
the ugly fight for the Sinclair fortune. Each
summer the wealthy, seemingly perfect, Sinclair
family meets on their private island. But
prejudice, greed, and shifting favoritism among
the three adult sisters chafes against the
camaraderie and worldview of the teenage
cousins and their dear friend, Gat. The lazy days of
sticky lemonades on the roof and marathon
Scrabble games ultimately give way to twisty
suspense, true love, and good intentions gone
horribly wrong.
(friendship, racism, family problems, summer, suspense)
Fiction;
Young Adult
Ryan Dean West is an unusually bright fourteen-yearold junior attending a boarding school for rich kids.
He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for
troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully
on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his
best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.
Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications
and even find some happiness along the way. But
when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out
how to hold on to what’s important, even when it
feels like everything has fallen apart. Hilarious and
heartbreaking, this novel shares one teen’s
experiences with life’s unpredictable curveballs.
(boarding school, bullying, coming of age, rugby, friendship)
Fiction;
Young Adult