YA reviews with Ella!

Resident teen blogger Ella is back to school and back to work at the library, but has lots to share on what she read this summer. And we're glad to have her back - her take on books is fun and unique.

First up is Blood Red Road by Moira Young.

"First, let me say how refreshing it was to have a truly selfish protagonist. Paragons of virtue are all very well and good, but every once in a while it's nice to read about someone who has less than any interest in being a hero. Saba's twin brother has been kidnapped and her father murdered, so she starts an epic journey across the dusty wasteland of their dystopian world to get him back. They have a little sister that Saba truly harbors nothing but jealousy and anger towards (which was nice while it lasted) who insists on tagging along. Gladiator-style cage matches, slavery, a drug empire, an attractive young man named Jack and some truly cool warrior girls all come included. The book is divided into parts, which I found made it slightly disconnected, like a series of novellas in one book, but it was still pretty good, despite Saba's disappointing sudden growth of a conscience. More of a library read than a addition to a personal collection is my advice." Read an excerpt of Blood Red Road.

Next - Wildefire by Karsten Knight.

"Yet another teenage girl has a crazy catalytic thing happen to her, and gets sent to boarding school. 3 guesses what she finds out there, and the first 2 don't count. You got it! She has magic powers, and is part of an epic power struggle between light and dark. What makes Wildefire different is that it's AWESOME! Ashline Wilde (I'm jealous of her name) has a pretty original power, and the drama with her homicidal, cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs sister was kind of cool. What made this book stand out of the identical backstory crowd? I really don't know. It just clicked. The amazing ending had something to do with it. Be warned, I was left gasping in shock and upset I have to wait to find out what was going to happen. Also, be aware before you get attached to characters that Knight has no qualms killing people off. The clever, evil man is ruthless, and knows how to play your emotions like a piano. It gets a little tiresome in the middle, cause it seems like the book is just doing exactly what every other book like it would do, but stick around a few more chapters and you won't regret it." Read an excerpt of Wildefire.

Thanks Ella for sharing your thoughts on some great YA titles - watch for more in the coming weeks. See you at work on Thursday Ella!