Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Wow, I loved this book. Can not recommend it enough. What a powerful story of three woman throughout Poland, Germany and America and how their stories intertwine as a result of WWII. One of the best books I've read in quite some time.

Amazon Summary
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

A Step Towards Falling by Cammie McGovern

I was a huge fan of Cammie McGoverns book Say What You Will and immediately ordered her other books to see if I liked them as much. I definitely enjoyed A Step Toward Falling. I really think Cammie McGovern is a great author and I especially like that she includes characters with disabilities. I don't often read books with characters with physical or mental disabilities and I think it helps me understand my students better. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Amazon Summary

Emily has always been the kind of girl who tries to do the right thing—until one night when she does the worst thing possible. She sees Belinda, a classmate with developmental disabilities, being attacked. Inexplicably, she does nothing at all.
Belinda, however, manages to save herself. When their high school finds out what happened, Emily and Lucas, a football player who was also there that night, are required to perform community service at a center for disabled people. Soon, Lucas and Emily begin to feel like maybe they’re starting to make a real difference. Like they would be able to do the right thing, if they could do that night all over again. But can they do anything that will actually help the one person they hurt the most?

The Girl With all the Gifts by M. R. Carey

I had heard about this book for a few months. It was getting a lot of buzz so I finally sat down to read it. I was slightly disappointed. I started off intrigued and by the end of the book I just didn't care how it was all going to end.

Amazon Summary

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

The Girl With All the Gifts is a groundbreaking thriller, emotionally charged and gripping from beginning to end.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes ( Abe Book)

I loved this book. I am also looking for a great mystery and this did the trick. I was intrigued from page one until the end. I think students will LOVE this series

Amazon Summary
Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But, it's not a skill that she's ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they've begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie. 

What Cassie doesn't realize is that there's more at risk than a few unsolved homicides-especially when she's sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms close. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive. 

Reberl, Bully, Geek, Pariah by Erin Jade Lange

I LOVED Butter and I was excited to read a new book from Lange. I did enjoy this story. It reminded me a lot of The Breakfast Club a group of students thrown together due to a circumstance and they form a life long bond and stay together through the end.

Amazon Summary

The Rebel: Once popular, Andi is now a dreadlocked and tattooed wild child.
The Bully: Sick of being the less favorite son, York bullies everyone, especially his brother.
The Geek: Boston, York's brother, and obsessed with getting into an Ivy League school.
The Pariah: Sam, now that her mom is sober, she just wants to get through one day at a time.

Andi, Sam, York, and Boston find themselves in the woods together when a party gets busted by the cops. Trying to run rather than get caught, they hop into the nearest car they see and take off . . . until they realize the car they've taken has a trunk is full of stolen drugs. Now they must rely on each other or risk their lives. Should they run or turn themselves in? Would anyone even believe the drugs aren't theirs? Every decision could determine the rest of their lives . . . but how can any of them trust people they barely know.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

I have been a fan of Ruta Septys for a while. I was eager to read this book. I found myself trudging along the story waiting for something to happen. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I found it slow and less engaging than her other books.

Amazon Summary
World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people—adults and children alike—aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman ( Abe Book)

What an interesting historical fiction book. We all know Hitler was a terrible person but what if you grew up as Hitler's niece. We meet Gretchen who loves her Uncle Dolf and has believed all her life that he is a good and fair man. I found this book to be a very interesting view on a subject we are all familiar with.

Amazon Summary

Gretchen Müller grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her uncle Dolf—who has kept her family cherished and protected from that side of society ever since her father sacrificed his life for Dolf's years ago. Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.

When she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen, who claims that her father was actually murdered by an unknown comrade, Gretchen doesn't know what to believe. She soon discovers that beyond her sheltered view lies a world full of shadowy secrets and disturbing violence.

As Gretchen's investigations lead her to question the motives and loyalties of her dearest friends and her closest family, she must determine her own allegiances—even if her choices could get her and Daniel killed.