Released in May 2006.

Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins.

Ah, another book in the marvelous Underland series!  It is one of those books that despite my huge pile of books waiting to review, I had to start immediately.  And I wasn’t disappointed. 

Marks of Secret is the fourth book in the series.  The books must be read in order, so don’t skip around!  Gregor and his toddler sister Boots have returned to the Underland, a hidden civilization under the streets of New York that is filled with talking rats, bats, cockroaches, mice and humans.  In the Underland, Gregor is known as The Warrior and has been on a series of adventures.  In this book, the Nibblers (mice) are suddenly disappearing, so Luxa, Gregor, Boots, and many favorite characters from the earlier books join together to find out what they can.  They expect to only be gone for a short while, but then an avalanche cuts them off from the human settlement.  They are forced to take a dangerous journey through the Firelands.

If you have not read the Underland series, it is a must-read!  Especially for children who enjoy fantasy.  The adventure, pacing, language, setting, and characters are all masterfully presented.  In no time at all, you too will be joining me in waiting for Book Five, where a new prophecy will undoubtedly be revealed!

Deconstructing Dylan is an interesting look at the future.  It is 2014, and Dylan is a boy interested in insects, the Loch Ness Monster and girls.  His first girlfriend dumps him because he is so strange, but then a new girl arrives in school.  Robyn is dark, mysterious and also interested in strange subjects like death and Tibet.  The two of them hit it off.  But Dylan knows that something is slightly wrong about him.  He continues to have strange dreams where he is someone else.  Dylan’s parents are both scientists who worked in genetics, but have both left the field.    When Dylan discovers a photograph of himself wearing clothes he doesn’t remember and  having longer hair, he starts to unravel the mystery of his life.

I enjoyed this book because though it is scientific, there is a lot of softness to the character of Dylan.  It is a very introspective book that reveals the personality of a boy who is out of synch with his peers and his parents.  The book does slow down in the middle, when readers have solved the mystery but Dylan is just beginning to understand, but the ending makes up for it.  While not a fast-paced action book, it will hold the attention of most readers.  Teens who also feel out of step in their lives will enjoy this book, as will those interested in science.