Taken

Taken by Erin Bowman

If we want to add a dystopian title (will this craze last longer than the vampire craze?!), this is a good debut novel. And ....wait for it..... there is a main male character (someone is breaking the rules of dystopian lit set up by H. G.!) The idea is fairly different/unique, but toward the end, the author uses the typical dystopian devices. However, the ending is a cliff hanger, and i think it will prompt teens to read more. And the book is convoluted and may be confusing for some readers, but if they stick with the story to the end, most of the story is explained. Kelly Budd, Keen High

This book would appeal to those who liked The Hunger Games or Unwind. It goes together a bit like a puzzle with bits of the story being revealed over time. As Kelly said above, there is a male protagonist here (which we have had some students ask for) but also some strong female characters which will make the book appeal to a large audience. While the book totally leaves itself open to a sequel, it can stand alone. I liked it more than I thought I would, and believe it is a strong enough title for the list. Sharon Flesher, Nashua High South

I think this is a strong contender for the final list. Strong similarities to the dystopian books before it, but still feels fresh. Very exciting, forward-moving plot (I finished the whole thing in one day - granted I was sick in bed, but still :-D). The first "twist" felt genuinely - twisty! The premise harkens back to the "Gone" series which I'm sure helps its popularity. Bowman does a great job of raising a lot of interesting questions and feeding us answers in a satisfying yet tantalizing pace. Refreshed my interest in this genre, for sure! - Liz, Merrimack PL

Gray and Blaine live is Claysoot, a society in which it is the norm for boys to be "heisted" on their 18th birthdays. They just disappear. There are those, of course, who try to run away to avoid being heisted, but their bodies always show up by the Wall, burnt to a crisp. When Blaine is heisted, Gray is left alone, and makes some interesting discoveries that lead him to question his society. He decides to climb the Wall for answers, and is accompanied by his love-interest, Emma. While it's refreshing to have a boy-centric dystopian novel, I had a hard time getting into it, and, ultimately, it left me cold. The love triangle was predictable, if understandable. I don't recommend it for the list, as I feel there are stronger books nominated, but if we're looking for a boy book that's also a dystopia, this is probably a good choice. -Kirsten Rundquist Corbett, Sandown Public Library, 1/18/14