ONE WRONG STEP by Jennifer Nielsen

One Wrong Step by Jennifer Nielsen

Mountain Climbing, Survival, Adventure, Grief

324 pages; 2025

Description

Publishers Weekly (December 16, 2024)

Twelve-year-old Atlas Wade has been climbing mountains for years, but after being forced to stay behind as his father joins a team of Mount Everest climbers, he sees an avalanche trapping his father's expedition, then--along with their Sherpa Chodak and an American girl, Maddie--Atlas begins a perilous journey to rescue the team.

Publishers Weekly (December 16, 2024)

Just before WWII’s start in 1939-when no one had yet reached Mt. Everest’s summit-14-year-old white-cued Atlas Wade accompanies his father on a hazardous expedition to stand "at the top of the world." During the excursion, the group learns that Nazis are attempting their own climb. Despite Atlas’s eagerness to finish the trek-born from his desire to escape grief surrounding his mother’s death three years ago-his father forbids him from making the final climb to the summit. While waiting at Advanced Base Camp at 21,300 feet, Atlas spies an avalanche around where the expedition should’ve been. Together with the daughter of another explorer and an injured adult Sherpa, Atlas determines to rescue them, using all the hiking skills his father taught him to survive. Employing her extensive mountain climbing experience-as outlined in an endnote-Nielsen (Uprising) details the activity’s pitfalls, hazards, and potential disasters with authenticity. The result is a gripping adventure tale that provides a new perspective through which to view the history of the era. An explanation of specific climbing terms begins each chapter; maps depicting Atlas’s progress scaling Everest feature throughout. Ages 8-12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

My Comments

Another gripping adventure. Highly recommended. Read other Nielsen books!

LAST DAY ON MARS by Kevin Emerson

 

Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson

Science Fiction, Adventure, Survival

337 pages; 2017

Description

Booklist starred (January 1, 2017 (Vol. 113, No. 9))

Grades 5-8. Earth’s sun is steadily expanding, and by the year 2213, the little blue marble has already been charred to a crisp. Luckily, humans have found a temporary home on Mars, where they’re building massive ships and terraforming technology in preparation for a 150-year journey to a more habitable planet far away from the soon-to-supernova sun. Liam and Phoebe are the last kids left on the Red Planet, and they’re waiting for their parents to perfect one last project before they get in their starliner and begin their journey to the new world. But as the kids do one last round of exploring their Martian colony—the only home they’ve ever known—they’re waylaid by a huge obstacle: sabotage. As Liam and Phoebe try to catch up to their starliner and warn them before they’re left behind, they make an even bigger discovery: unbeknownst to humans, there are other beings in the universe. Emerson has clearly done his research and includes lots of actual Mars features and space science into the more imaginative sci-fi elements, such as a time-traveling watch salvaged from a mysterious alien ship, which helps Liam see the future of potential choices. With high-stakes tension, propulsive action, multidimensional characters, and vivid scenes, this well-wrought and thrilling series starter is perfect for middle-graders who prefer their sci-fi to be grounded in the realm of the possible.

My Comments

A thrilling adventure. Perfect for middle school. I can't wait to read the sequel, but it's currently checked out. Highly recommend!

EAGLE DRUMS by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

Eagle Drums by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

Fantasy, Mythology, Native Americans, Indigenous People, Survival, Nature, Animals, Alaska, Friendship

Newbery Honor 2024

2023; 245 pages

Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (August 1, 2023)

The Iñupiaq origin story of the Messenger Feast and a boy who was kidnapped by eagles. Throughout Piŋa’s childhood, he was told haunting stories about the dangers of strangers, an unknown presence in the mountains near his family’s sod house, and his missing older brothers, Atau and Maliġu. His mother’s projection of his brothers’ successes onto him combined with his father’s silence, both expressions of their grieving, leave Piŋa wondering, “How can you compete with someone’s memories, anyway?” One day, Savik, who shape-shifts between man and golden eagle, offers Piŋa a choice: death or captivity. Piŋa reflects on the pain his death would cause his parents. He decides to go with Savik and try to return someday. The eagles teach Piŋa singing, drumming, and dancing. He also learns how to build a giant sod house and host a huge feast. The lessons aren’t easy, and his ego is challenged: “I learned not to lead with demands. I learned to lead with connections.” Piŋa struggles with fear and distrust instilled by his family, overcomes self-doubt, and becomes both “creator and learner.” This orally transmitted tale, once banned like the feast it describes, offers a deep connection to rich cultural teachings. Iñupiaq author and illustrator Hopson enhances the story with full-page color illustrations that visually connect readers with Piŋa’s journey and emphasize the importance of connections to nature, spiritual beings, and human relatives. A captivating tale filled with enduring lessons about overcoming the fear of others. (author’s note) (Folklore. 8-12)

My Comments

The beginning of this story is quiet, describing an Inupiaq family, their home, and the emotions following the disappearance of Pinja's two older brothers while hunting in the mountains. It quickly picks up, however, once the boy is captured by an eagle. Every detail from the story's beginning ties into the plot and the boy's feelings throughout the book.

The message of respect for life and community is emphasized, as well as the importance of creating a vision, setting goals, perseverance, and believing in oneself.

This story would lend itself well as a read-aloud and discussion book.

I AM THE WALRUS N.O.A.H. Files (Book 1) by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

 

I Am the Walrus by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

Science Fiction, Humor, Animal Defenses Fiction, Genetic Engineering Fiction, Survival, Alien Contact

2023; 392 pages

Description
Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2023)
Fourteen-year-old Noah Prime is late for school and collides with classmate Sahara on his way in, although he can’t remember how it happened. But that’s not the only strange thing that happens that week. He suddenly freezes up and topples over when confronted by bullies, embarrasses himself on the dance floor with Sahara, and performs a difficult gymnastics routine with ease on the first try. Noah’s best friend, Ogden, gradually works out that when Noah is stressed, he exhibits the defense mechanisms of various animals: bird, possum, penguin, chimpanzee, and -- when he is accidentally trapped with Sahara in a refrigerated meat locker -- walrus. Early in the novel, the reader is given teasing glimpses into further mysteries. A boy named Noah Tercero is captured and killed in Argentina, as is Noah Secundus in England. Do they have similar abilities? And does the same fate await Noah Prime -- or can he figure things out with the help of Ogden and Sahara? With brisk pacing, offbeat humor, and endearingly quirky characters, the plot grows more outlandish with each chapter, which is perhaps fitting for a book whose title alludes to a famously nonsensical Beatles song. Shusterman and Elfman (co-authors of the Accelerati trilogy) deliver the goods in this entertaining science fiction romp, leaving readers eager for the next installment. Jonathan Hunt March/April 2023 p.80

My Comments
Still reading!

ALEBRIJES by Donna Barba Higuera

 

Alebrijes by Adonna Barba Higuera

Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Magic, Survival, Hispanic-Latino

2023; 404 pages

Description

Booklist starred (August 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 22))
Grades 5-8. Upon a desolate Earth, an enclave of humans has established a society amid hostile surroundings, including a wyrmfield inhabited by subterranean monsters straight out of Tremors. A harsh caste system has landed orphaned 13-year-old Leandro and his little sister, Gabi, in the Pox (Pocatel’s slum) with the other Cascabeles, who work the potato fields each day under the watchful eye of the Pocatelan guards. Longing for a better life, Leandro has planned an escape, but everything is ruined when he is arrested for stealing and sentenced to three years’ exile. Curiously, it will only be his mind that is held captive—uploaded into a tiny piece of Old-World tech called a spark. The physician performing the procedure secretly offers Leandro a deal in which she will place his spark into a hummingbird drone if he will search for her missing daughter, who is also in drone form. He accepts, knowing he and Gabi can leave Pocatel should he succeed. The high-stakes adventure awaiting Hummingbird Leandro is enthralling and studded with surprises that spur the narrative onward. Beautiful, imaginative writing fills this dystopian sf novel. Though it exposes cruelty and corruption, it raises up storytelling, culture, and kindness as stronger yet, giving a satisfying nod to Higuera’s Newbery Award–winning The Last Cuentista (2021) in the process. A wondrous addition to any collection.

My Comments

Still reading!

DRY by Neal Shusterman

 

Dry by Neal Shusterman

Realistic Fiction, Horror, Survival, High School

390 pages

Description

Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2018)

A major drought in Southern California has been going on long enough for people to adjust, with everyone conserving as much water as possible. But one day Alyssa turns on the faucet in her suburban home, and nothing comes out. Suddenly, with this new stage of the drought (which the media calls the Tap-Out), everyone is scrambling, and Alyssa’s neighborhood becomes more dangerous. Alyssa’s neighbor Kelton McCracken, a “weirdo” teen who lives with his family of doomsday preppers, has always wanted to have a reason to interact with Alyssa, but the Tap-Out creates a scenario he could never have imagined. As people become increasingly desperate for water and institutions begin to break down, the thread between selfishness and survival begins unraveling as ethical dilemmas present themselves around sharing water, selling water, and deciding who is worthy of saving. Alyssa, her brother Garrett, and Kelton wind up on a road trip to survive, picking up strangers along the way who may or may not be allies. Throughout this compulsively readable and unnerving tale, the authors present a dystopia that is all-too-close to our current world, leading readers to realize just how tenuous our societal norms are and raising important questions about how we will handle the crises we have created. christina l. dobbs

My Comments
I immediately stocked up on water after reading this book. It makes you think. What if....This was an addictive read that has stayed with me. I will never forget it. Powerful is an understatement. There are some extremely disturbing gun violence episodes that lead me to recommend it to high school students, not middle school. That said, I think it's one of my top picks this year.

TWO DEGREES by Alan Gratz

 

Two Degrees by Alan Gratz

Adventure, Survival, Natural Disasters, Global Warming

365 pages

Description

School Library Journal (November 1, 2022)

Gr 4-7-A fictional story about climate change geared for the middle grade audience. It is told through the eyes of four middle school students, all individuals battling climate disasters in North America; the parallel plots are linked by climate events. In Nevada, Japanese American Akira Kristiansen witnesses giant sequoias catching fire, which seems impossible. She is separated from her family as she struggles to survive the extraordinary wildfire. In Manitoba, eighth grade boys Owen Mackenzie (white) and George Gruyère (Mushkegowuk) face ravenous polar bears. In Miami, Puerto Rican Florida resident Natalie Torres is washed away by a hurricane. All characters suffer losses and scars. Gratz writes at the end of the book that he was inspired by Greta Thunberg and other climate protestors and wanted to boost their signal. The chapters are short and flow well enough to keep the reader's attention. Gratz drives home the point that we are all very closely connected when it comes to climate change, and that everyone should be looking at the big picture. VERDICT Gratz urges readers to see that what is happening around them isn't in isolation, but affects everyone around the world. Fans of Gratz and the "I Survived" series will welcome this action-packed title. -Lisa Gieskes © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments
These stories are vivid and powerful. The message is clear; climate change is happening, and we are all connected, all impacted by the effects. These are gripping scenarios. Highly recommended for all middle school readers.

FREEWATER by Amina Luqman Dawson

 

Freewater by Amina Luqman Dawson

African American, Slavery, Survival

403 pages

Newbery Award Winner 2023
Grades 4-7

Description
"After fleeing the plantation where they were enslaved, siblings Ada and Homer discover the secret community of Freewater, and work with freeborn Sanzi to protect their new home from the encroaching dangers of the outside world." -The Publisher

School Library Journal Xpress (March 25, 2022)

Gr 5-8-Sometimes, to be free, you have to make a life in a place where no one can find you. Freewater is such a place. With their mother leading the way, Homer and his younger sister Ada try to escape their hellish lives of slavery on the Southerland Plantation. But Homer remembers his promise of freedom to his friend Anna; his mother turns back for her but is caught. Homer and Ada run to nearby river and plunge into the raging waters that carry them into the Great Dismal Swamp. Lost and disoriented, they are rescued by Suleman, a mysterious and taciturn guide who leads them through the inhospitable swamp to Freewater, a settlement of escaped men, women, and children living in freedom. Slowly, Homer begins to appreciate living and working together to contribute to the thriving community. But what about his mama? Plagued by guilt about his mother's capture, Homer decides to return to the plantation to rescue his mother and Anna. His new friends from Freewater pledge to return with him. Using a hand-drawn map that (unbelievably) survives multiple drenchings, Homer and company undertake the seemingly impossible rescue. Told from many alternating points of view, it is somewhat challenging to keep the characters straight at the outset. While using archeological evidence of settlements of formerly enslaved people within the Great Dismal Swamp as the basis for the text, the story itself is a speculative look into such a community. VERDICT A fascinating look at a fictional Black resistance settlement in little-known place.-Lisa Crandall © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments
Dawson manages to capture the grueling life, the courage, and the often-painful dilemmas faced by slaves on plantations through the eyes of children. Ada may see a little young for middle school readers, but there are older characters to whom they can relate. The story is gripping. The character development and growing understanding of others' tragic pasts add strong possibilities for discussion. Highly recommended.

ALONE by Megan E. Freeman

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

404 pages

Novel in Verse, Realistic/Dystopian Fiction, Survival, Adventure, Human-Animal Relationships

Description
"When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She's alone--left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents clever ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten. As months pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie's most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day"--Amazon. 

 

My Comments

Riveting. I dropped everything and read this book to the end. The novel in verse is a perfect format. Maddie's resilience and ingenuity is inspiring. Her relationship with George, the Rotteweiler, will tug at your heart. A tough story that flows. Yay Maddie! Heads up: There are two really sad animal death scenes. They are quick and not gratuitous, but show in one case, animals needing to survive (dogs kill a rabbit) and in the other, human cruelty (a kitten is killed by a looter). These scenes show that it's not just a fun adventure, but survival. Incredible book. Freeman's writing is top notch. Highly recommended.

THE BRIDGE HOME by Padma Venkatramen

 

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

194 pages

Fiction-India, Homelessness, Child Labor, Survival, Adventure, Friendship, Family

Lesson Plan available

 Description
Kirkus Reviews starred (December 15, 2018)

"Venkatraman’s middle-grade debut tackles sisterhood, chosen families, and loss. Eleven-year-old Viji and her sister, Rukku, flee their abusive father after he breaks Amma’s arm and kicks Rukku. They find themselves, overwhelmed, in the big city of Chennai, where they are temporarily employed by kind Teashop Aunty, who offers them bananas and vadais, and fall in love with a puppy, Kutti, who becomes their constant companion. The sisters meet Muthu and Arul, two boys who live under an abandoned bridge, and join them; Viji tells Rukku elaborate stories to reassure herself and her sister that they will be OK. Soon, Viji finds herself telling the young boys her stories as well; in return, the boys show the girls how to earn money on the streets: by scavenging for resalable trash in a very large garbage dump Muthu calls “the Himalayas of rubbish.” When tragedy strikes, it is this new family who helps Viji come to terms. Craftwise, the book is thoughtful: Venkatraman employs the second person throughout as Viji writes to Rukku, and readers will ultimately understand that Viji is processing her grief by writing their story. Viji’s narration is vivid and sensory; moonlight “slip[s] past the rusty iron bars on our window”; “the taste of half an orange…last[s] and last[s].” The novel also touches on social justice issues such as caste, child labor, and poverty elegantly, without sacrificing narrative. A blisteringly beautiful book. (Fiction. 10-14)"

 

My Comments

Venkatraman writes a heartbreaking story through the eyes of a young girl who is trying to survive homelessness on the streets of Chennai, India while taking care of her developmentally challenged sister. The writing is indeed vivid and sensory as mentioned in the Kirkus review. She portrays the stark contrast of wealth and poverty. Chennai is a fashionable city, ranked the ‘best city in India in 2014 which makes this story all the more heartbreaking, but also so full of love, healing, courage, and triumph.

 

“Chennai is ranked as a beta-level city in the Global Cities Index,^[32] and was ranked the best city in India by India Today in the 2014 annual Indian city survey.^[33][34] In 2015 Chennai was named the "hottest" city (city worth visiting and worth living in for long term) by the BBC, citing the mixture of both modern and traditional values.^[35] National Geographic mentioned Chennai as the only South Asian city to feature in its 2015 "Top 10 food cities" list.^[36] Chennai was also named the ninth-best cosmopolitan city in the world by Lonely Planet.^[37] In October 2017, Chennai was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) list for its rich musical tradition.^[38] More than one-third of India's automobile industry being based in the city. Home to the Tamil film industry, Chennai is also known as a major film production centre. It is one of the 100 Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under the Smart Cities Mission.^{[39]” (}

-Wikipedia

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins

 

Science Fiction, Survival, Action, Violence, High School
517 pages.

Suzanne Collins

https://twitter.com/hungergamesnet

Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (June 15, 2020)

An origin story for both President Snow and the Hunger Games as we know them. 

Coriolanus Snow has the right family name, a prestigious address, talent, and 

charisma—but unless he wins a prize to pay for university, it’s all for nothing, as 

his family’s wealth came from the now obliterated District 13. He must succeed 

in his final project of being a mentor in the Hunger Games, but his District 12 girl

 tribute assignment at first feels damning. However, Lucy Gray Baird is vibrant 

and wild, a singer and performer with star power; she’s perfect for Coriolanus, who 

has been tasked with boosting the grim, lackluster games that, early in the shift from 

mock war to sporting spectacle, are even more brutal and unpredictable. Coriolanus 

is pulled between Mengelian Dr. Gaul’s twisted mentorship and connections with 

sympathetic foils Lucy Gray (which veers romantic) and compassionate classmate 

Sejanus. Conflicted Coriolanus thinks of himself as a good person in an impossible 

situation but also as exceptional—a belief with a high price. Collins humanizes him 

as superficially heroic and emotionally relatable while also using him for a vehicle for philosophical questions. Though readers know how he will eventually answer the 

questions explicitly asked of him, the central question is why, resulting in both a 

tense, character-driven piece and a cautionary tale. There is some mention of 

diversity in skin tone; Coriolanus and Lucy Gray seem to be white. The twists and 

heartbreaks captivate despite tragic inevitabilities. (Science fiction. 12-adult)

My Comments Despite some reviews, I think this prequel is as good, if not better than the Hunger Games trilogy. Collins delves into serious, relevant philosophical questions about human behavior and choices. It would be excellent for 8th through high school sociopolitical discussions related to Machiavelli ideology. This book is best for older and mature readers. On my favorite list. Waiting for the next one!

THE WILD ROBOT by Peter Brown

Science Fiction; Wildlife, Survival

Description
"In THE WILD ROBOT, when a cargo ship goes down in a storm, a crate with a robot washes up on an island. Curious otters activate it, and ROZZUM unit 7134 comes to life and introduces herself: "You may call me Roz." Though the island isn't a welcoming habitat for a robot, Roz has been programmed to be curious, so she observes the animals to see how they survive and mimics them. At first, the animals think she's a monster and try to mobilize against her, but Roz wins them over by helping them. She also adopts an orphan gosling and builds a shelter to save her animal friends from a cruel winter. Will she be reclaimed by reconnaissance robots looking for her? " -Commonsense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-wild-robot

My Comments
Good hook in beginning with suspense. Interesting to read how Roz solves the problems of survival.  Good introductory choice for kids who like robots and science fiction.

See sequel: Escape...!

THE UNDERNEATH by Kathi Appelt

Animal Tales, Fantasy, Survival, Dogs, Cats, Bayou

Newbery Honor 2009, ALA Notable, Starred Reviews

320 pages. 

From the Publisher (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
There is nothing lonelier than a cat who has been loved, at least for a while, and then abandoned on the side of the road.
A calico cat, about to have kittens, hears the lonely howl of a chained-up hound deep in the backwaters of the bayou. She dares to find him in the forest, and the hound dares to befriend this cat, this feline, this creature he is supposed to hate. They are an unlikely pair, about to become an unlikely family. Ranger urges the cat to hide underneath the porch, to raise her kittens there because Gar-Face, the man living inside the house, will surely use them as alligator bait should he find them. But they are safe in the Underneath...as long as they stay in the Underneath.

Kittens, however, are notoriously curious creatures. And one kitten's one moment of curiosity sets off a chain of events that is astonishing, remarkable, and enormous in its meaning. For everyone who loves Sounder, Shiloh, and The Yearling, for everyone who loves the haunting beauty of writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Flannery O'Connor, and Carson McCullers, Kathi Appelt spins a harrowing yet keenly sweet tale about the power of love -- and its opposite, hate -- the fragility of happiness and the importance of making good on your promises. (the publisher)

My Comments
An intriguing book. Gar-Face is terrifying so consider the reader. A lot of story threads that do manage to come together. Not an easy read. Give to kids who love old folk-tales with magic interwoven. A good read aloud.

REFUGEE by Alan Gratz

Survival, Holocaust, Courage, Family, Immigration
Historical Fiction
338 pages

From the publisher:
"JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .
ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .
MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .
All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers -- from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end.

This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home."

My Comments
These stories are primarily targeted to the middle school audience although the material could easily be used in high school. The juxtaposition of the three lives drives home the common experience of heartbreak, loss, and great courage faced by refugees throughout time and country. Highly recommended.

SOUL SURFER by Bethany Hamilton

A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board

Narrative Nonfiction; Survival; Courage

"Bethany Hamilton shares the story of her lifelong love of surfing, and tells how she was able to recover and return to competition with the help of her family, friends, and faith after losing her arm in a shark attack at the age of thirteen." (titlewave.com)

This was published in 2004, but is still a popular book with my middle school students. I finally read it. Now I know why it's a keeper. Bethany's wisdom, faith, and love are remarkable. Her persistence and perspective on life are an example for all ages. Highly inspiring.

"What about sharks?" That question is asked countless times to surfers, especially by those whose sports rarely take them near the ocean....I'd usually just shrug and try not to think about it.....Life is full of what-ifs. You can't let it hold you back. If you do, you're not really living at all...just kind of going through the motions with no meaning." (page 122-123)

THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner

Dystopian; Science Fiction; Horror

Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2009)

Boys come to the Glade via an empty freight elevator with no memory of how they got there or of their prior lives. This disorientation is made more frightening when they realize that to survive they must lock themselves in every night to avoid the horrors of the Grievers, beings that are part machine, part animal--and altogether deadly. The boys in the Glade send out Runners each day to find a way out through the Maze that surrounds their one patch of safety, with no success. Life goes on until one day the elevator delivers a girl. She brings a message: She is the last child to be sent, and there will be no more deliveries of food or supplies. Now the Glade is cut off, and as the Grievers gather for an all-out attack it's clear that it's now or never--the Maze must be solved. Dashner knows how to spin a tale and make the unbelievable realistic. Hard to put down, this is clearly just a first installment, and it will leave readers dying to find out what comes next. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

Great recommendation for those who like the Hunger Games and Divergent. Not for the timid - a scenario similar to Lord of the Flies with lots of gore and creepy 'grievers'! A page turner.

Okay, just finished  book 2 and 3: The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure. Now I see that there is a prequel - The Kill Order! Full disclosure: I am a chicken with horror; cannot read Stephen King or watch horror films. I would definitely classify this as horror, but I couldn't stop reading and made it to the end. This has been such a big hit with my middle school students for years and I knew I had to read it. I am exhausted (kept wanting a quick happy ending!) but it was well worth it. Great series! Just make sure your reader likes a little horror! Thanks James Dashner. Twitter: jamesdashner and #dashnerarmy

Check out the movie! "Based upon the best-selling novel by James Dashner. The Maze Runner, coming to theaters September 19, 2014. #MazeRunner"