Summer Cool, by Kate Petty (Reviewed by Subbi Madhavan)
by Dear Librarian
Four girls Holly, Josie, Alex and Zoe have half of their summer vacation left, and they want to spend it having a summer romance. Holly starts an adventure of romance in Barbados with her really rich boyfriend; Alex is a tomboy and is not really attracted towards boys since her house is filled with them; Josie has just gotten a brace and feels that it is very unlikely that she will have a romance; and Zoe has joined a theatre camp. Will they all have the romances they have always dreamed about?
Have you ever wondered what the top ten cars are? Have you ever wondered what the top ten money making movies are? Or what about the top ten Johnny Depp Films? What about the top ten countries to live in? Or the top ten universities in the UK? Or for foreign students? This book, The Top 10 of Everything, has the absolute top ten of anything you could think of–soccer, cricket, dinasours, singles, albums, skyscrapers, farming…the list goes on! This is an interesting book for those top ten listers. 
There’s this thing called The List, and it’s a list of people to be killed–by aliens! This is Daniel X’s biggest worry along with trying to battle a growing population of aliens, aliens that murdered his parents. Luckily, Daniel has some very special powers and some very important friends. And because of what’s he witnessed, he also has revenge in the heart!
This is the book for those who love the media styled story. There isn’t a table of contents to this book but rather a table of email addresses. This list in the beginning of the book tells the reader who will be writing. And the style of writing varies! There are actual old style letters sent through snail mail. Of course there are email messages. There’s im chatting. At the end there’s even a playlist. 
Books in verse are the best! They are always an excellent follow-up book when you want to read something different. They offer a rhythym to their reading that hypnotizes the reader. They are a fast and furious read. This one by Sonya Sones is one of the best yet. I love Ruby’s sarcastic tone, and I especially love her sardonic commentary. Despite her situation–loss of mother/gain of non-committal father–Ruby maintains an optimistically depressed attitude toward her new life in Hollywood with her famous movie star father. Although this story has a sad beginning with Ruby’s mother obviously dying of cancer, Ruby grows and learns to love her father who deserted her many years before. 
Colfer has done it again: he’s written a page turner! Airman is a bit historical fiction, a bit fantasy, but mainly gripping. The setting is the Saltee Islands off of the Irish coast in the 19th century where the main character lives wonderfully with his best friend Princess Isabella. The enemey, Bonvillian, however enters and turns Conors life for the worse; he’s been condemned to mine diamonds–underwater! The violent adventure begins as Conor plans his escape, and of course the princess becomes involved. Let it be known that although Conor was born in a hot air balloon, that isn’t why this book is called Airman. 
In the city of Ember there is no sky: the city is covered, and day and night are regulated by the lights flickering above. When the electricity goes out–which is often–the city is pitch black. And it’s not fun when this happens. What’s worse is the way in which one receives their job in Ember. On graduation day, the mayor brings a sack filled with slips containing various jobs. Twelve year old members of Ember draw out of this sack to get your job. Imagine getting the job that requires you to clean the sewage pipes! What would you do…?!