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Slow moving, but satisfying story that centers around the yearly November Scorpio Race on the mystical island of Thisby. Puck Connelly is the first girl to attempt the race, much to the disapproval of the men on the island. But with her parents killed by the Capaill Uisce, bloodthirsty water horses that want to either drown their riders or eat their flesh, and her older brother moving to the mainland, she desperately needs the winning purse in order to reclaim her family home. 19-year-old Sean Kendrick is a local horse trainer, working for Benjamin Malvern, whose dream it is to own his own stables one day, preferably with his favorite horse Corr. He's won four of the past six races and odds are in his favor to win again. If he can pull it off, he will have enough money to buy Corr outright. With the narration alternating between the perspectives of the unlikely pair, the atmosphere of the island abounds as preparations for the Scorpio Race consume the story, while leaving room for this new relationship to build. This is similar to Hunger Games in terms of there being a deadly competition in which only one person can win, and it is a love story, though the romance is minimal. This will appeal to Young Adult and Adult readers who enjoy a story that takes time to set up in order to become familiar with the characters and the setting, and provides not only a satisfying ending, but an emotional one. It will likely also appeal to fans of mythology to a degree. Highly recommended. 
Cassia hasn't questioned the utopia where she lives. Her childhood has been pleasant and secure. She's excited and hopeful, if not a little nervous, about being "matched' to her life-long mate by the Officials. After all, her parents were matched and have a happy and loving marriage. To her surprise, she's matched to her childhood friend, Xander. Everything seems great until she sees on her match profile a quick image of another boy she knows. This and many other events lead Cassia to question the control and lack of choice that has made the "utopia" possible, and ultimately bring danger to her and the people she loves. "Matched" is a mix of romance and sci-fi, with positive family life thrown in. It presents a variety of interesting questions, including what happens when a society controls and severely limits the arts and creativity. Squeaky clean, good for grades 7 and up. First in the series.
What if alternate realities do exist? What if, at every crossroad in your life (and your ancestors’ lives), there is another reality playing out where the opposite choice was made, or the opposite fate occurred? Alaric’s life has changed for the worst since his mother died two years ago, and he misses her very much. Their Victorian mansion in the English countryside has fallen into disrepair and his father is unavailable to him. When his father leaves for a long weekend, and his eccentric aunt comes to stay, a blizzard arrives, bringing snow for several days. Alaric touches a replica of their mansion that his mother made and ends up in an alternate reality. It’s his same house, only well-maintained, with a girl his age who looks like a female copy of himself. And in this place, his mother is still alive. While this intelligent and compelling book seems to read as a fantasy, it’s actually science fiction, with strong and interesting characters, fascinating setting, and mind-boggling questions. This book, which was first published in 2003, is the first in a series, so the ending leaves more questions than answers. Recommended for grades 7 and up.
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