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266 pp.
| Simon
| March, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-1-5344-1955-1$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-5344-1957-5
(4)
4-6
At age four, Sam fell into an abandoned well. Now eleven, Sam has skipped two grades and is battling his national-news-making past--and his parents--to fulfill his dream of becoming a chef. As the story moves between Sam's ordeal in the well (with an acerbic talking armadillo) and the present day, unrealistic characters mar the promising premise. The heartfelt ending, however, infuses the story with warmth.
438 pp.
| Simon
| September, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-5344-2220-9$18.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-5344-2222-3
(2)
YA
In a gonzo, sardonic version of future America, humans are practically obsolete and uber-realistic robots called cogs do almost all the work. When sixteen-year-old narrator Cager and his best friend, both heirs to cog fortunes, hijack a super-luxurious spaceship, the passengers--cog, alien, and human--make Cager question everything he knows about being human. Smith's ambitious world-building features extended metaphorical riffs on consumerism, class, social-media outrage, sexual harassment, and violence.
401 pp.
| Simon
| September, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4814-1829-4$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4814-1831-7
(3)
YA
Illustrated by
Sam Bosma.
In the sequel to Winger, fifteen-year-old Ryan Dean West is back at Pine Mountain Academy for his senior year. But this year, in addition to dealing with the death of his best friend Joey, he's also given a claustrophobic twelve-year-old freshman for a roommate. Narrator Ryan Dean is crude but likable, and his experience with trauma is realistically (and humorously) portrayed.
320 pp.
| Dutton
| March, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-525-42653-0$18.99
(1)
YA
Fifteen-year-old war refugee Ariel is adopted into the family of "de-extinction" scientist Jake Burgess and sent to camp with adoptive brother Max. Meanwhile, psychotic Leonard Fountain is on a deranged road trip. And the crew of the ship Alex Crow fights for survival on an ill-fated late-nineteenth-century Arctic voyage. Strong prose with a distinct teenage-boy sensibility anchors this ambitious novel's exploration of survival and extinction.
Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2015
390 pp.
| Dutton
| February, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-525-42603-5$18.99
(3)
YA
Unfortunate coincidences involving sixteen-year-old Austin and his best friend Robby lead to the unleashing of gigantic, ravenous praying mantises related to a diabolical scientist's decades-old experiments. Austin's love for and attraction to both his girlfriend and to Robby is the powerful emotional backbone of this intricate, grimly comedic apocalypse story, in which Smith proves himself a daring and original wordsmith.
277 pp.
| Simon
| September, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4424-4495-9$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4424-4497-3
(2)
YA
High schooler Finn survived a freak accident years ago in which a dead horse fell from an overpass, killing his mother. After girl-of-his-dreams Julia moves away, crestfallen Finn embarks on a college visit with his friend Cade, a trip that turns them into heroes. Finn has a funny, fluid narrative voice, and his banter with Cade is excellent--and often hilariously vulgar. Unusual and memorable.
Reviewer: Sam Bloom
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2014
439 pp.
| Simon
| May, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4424-4492-8$16.99
(2)
YA
Illustrated by
Sam Bosma.
Fourteen-year-old Ryan Dean plays rugby at Pine Mountain, "the best school around for the rich deviants of tomorrow." Though at first Ryan Dean seems like a nice kid, he ends up like the other boys--getting into fights, peeing in people's drinks. Jaded high schoolers may enjoy the messed-up vision of a school life even worse than their own.
Reviewer: Dean Schneider
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2013
465 pp.
| Feiwel
| October, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-250-00487-7$17.99
(2)
YA
The power, violence, and emotional outlet Jack found in the alternate world of Marbury (The Marbury Lens) have proven addictive, and he soon returns. While the first book provided glimpses of hope, here Marbury's relentless grimness is front and center, and while the story provides resolution, it offers difficult truths rather than easy comfort.
Reviewer: Robin Brenner
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2013
292 pp.
| Feiwel
| October, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-312-61341-9$17.99
(2)
YA
Thirteen-year-old “Stick” was born with only one ear and secretly sadistic parents; for the slightest infraction, Stick’s father will beat him and his older brother Bosten. After Dad finds out Bosten is gay, both boys, separately, run away. The violence of the story is intense, but so is the deep loyalty between the brothers.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2012
359 pp.
| Feiwel
| November, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-312-61342-6$17.99
(3)
YA
While visiting London, Jack Whitmore discovers a pair of glasses that transport him to the apocalyptic world of Marbury. There he finds himself struggling to protect two younger boys. Meanwhile, his loose grip on reality threatens his relationships with his best friend and with a new love interest. Complex characters and visceral details make for a haunting and intriguing journey.
326 pp.
| Feiwel
| October, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-312-37558-4$17.99
(2)
YA
In this survival adventure, the characters must survive each other as much as the unforgiving landscape. Arizona-bound brothers Jonah and Simon catch a ride with flirtatious Lilly and ominous Mitch. During an increasingly tense road trip, their relationships constantly shift. The book's 1970 setting is vivid, the plot suspenseful, and the personalities complex and intriguing, particularly in their interactions.
Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2010
357 pp.
| Feiwel
| September, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-312-37557-7$17.95
(3)
YA
Sixteen-year-old Troy spends the summer with his friends Gabe and Tom, working on Gabe's father's ranch, riding horses, and camping under the stars. When the town bully comes after them, Troy's story builds to a devastating climax. The book's classic Western setup is expertly overlaid with complex modern-day characters and situations to create a timely tale about friendship and loss.