Looking for something gripping to read on your summer vacation? Try a distopian novel. There's nothing like a story that takes you into the future, and sends you on an adventure for survival. Here are a few of our Staff and Teen Advisory Group's Favorites:

Across the Universe by Revis, Beth -- Amy says goodbye to her boyfriend and life as she knows it, to join her parents on a distant planet. She is unfrozen early - was someone trying to murder her? Can she trust the people aboard? Be sure to watch for A Million Suns, the sequel to Across the Universe. We can't wait to find out what happens to Amy and Elder.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Ryan, Carrie -- Start with a village surrounded by zombies, add an arranged marriage, a secret love and an unexpected breach of the village's wall. The story drags a bit in the middle, but you'll want to keep reading to find out what happens to Mary, Travis, Harry and Cass.

The Dead Tossed Waves by Ryan, Carrie -- In the sequel to The Dead Tossed Waves, Gabry and her friends break the rules and go over their village’s barrier into an abandoned amusement park. A night of fun turns horrific as three people get infected.

The Dark and Hollow Places by Ryan, Carrie -- Alone and listening to the moaning of the Dark City dying around her, Annah wants to find her way back home, to her sister and family and their village in the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

The Maze Runner by Daschner, James -- Thomas wakes up in the middle of a maze with no memory of who he is, or where he came from. Only one thing is certain - find a way out of the maze or die.

The Scorch Trials by Daschner, James -- After surviving horrific conditions in the Maze, Thomas is entrapped, along with nineteen other boys, in a scientific experiment designed to observe their responses and gather data believed to be essential for the survival of the human race. Be sure to watch for the sequel: The Death Solution and find out what happens to Thomas next. Is WICKED really good?

Ship Breaker by Bacigalupi, Paolo. -- In a futuristic world, teenaged Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.

Matched by Condie, Ally -- All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, whom to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well?

Crossed by Condie, Ally -- Coming Soon! Will Cassia break free of her society's rules? What will happen to Ky? Will Xander and Cassie still be matched?

The Giver by Lowry, Lois -- Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

Gathering Blue by Lowry, Lois -- Lame and suddenly orphaned, Kira is mysteriously removed from her squalid village to live in the palatial Council Edifice, where she is expected to use her gifts as a weaver to do the bidding of the all-powerful Guardians.

Uglies by Westerfeld, Scott -- Just before their sixteenth birthdays, when they will will be transformed into beauties whose only job is to have a great time, Tally's best friend runs away and Tally must find her and turn her in, or never become pretty at all.

Pretties by Westerfeld, Scott -- Tally's transformation to perfect and popular including her totally hot boyfriend is everything she always wanted. But beneath the fun and freedom something is wrong and now Tally has to fight for her life because what she knows has put her in danger with the authorities.

Specials by Westerfeld, Scott -- After being captured and surgically transformed into a "special," teenaged Tally Youngblood, now a government agent programmed to protect society from outside threats, is ordered to eliminate the rebel colony New Smoke, Tally's former home

Extras by Westerfeld, Scott -- After rebel Tally Youngblood brings down the uglies/pretties/specials regime, fame, instead of beauty, becomes the new world order, and fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse embarks on a dangerous plan to boost her popularity ranking.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Ness, Patrick -- Pursued by power-hungry Prentiss and mad minister Aaron, young Todd and Viola set out across New World searching for answers about his colony's true past and seeking a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers from Old World.

The Ask and the Answer by Ness, Patrick -- Alternate chapters follow teenagers Todd and Viola, who become separated as the Mayor's oppressive new regime takes power in New Prentisstown

Monsters of Men by Ness, Patrick -- As a world-ending war surges to life around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions, questioning all they have ever known as they try to step back from the darkness and find the best way to achieve peace.

The Bar Code Tattoo by Weyn, Suzanne -- In the near future, Kayla finds herself running for her life when she refuses to get the mandatory bar code tattoo on her seventeenth birthday--a decision that renders her a social outcast and places her family in grave danger.

The Bar Code Rebellion by Weyn, Suzanne -- Sequel to The Bar Code Tattoo

Hunger Games by Collins, Suzanne -- In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

Catching Fire by Collins, Suzanne -- By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

Mocking Jay by Collins, Suzanne -- Sequel to Catching Fire.

Gone by Grant, Michael -- In a small town on the coast of California, everyone over the age of fourteen suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between the remaining town residents and the students from a local private school, as well as those who have "The Power" and are able to perform supernatural feats and those who do not.

Hunger by Grant, Michael -- Conditions worsen for the remaining young residents of a small California coastal town isolated by supernatural events when their food supplies dwindle and the Darkness underground awakens.

Lies by Grant, Michael -- As conditions worsen in the FAYZ, where supernatural forces have trapped children under the age of fifteen and resources are running out, it becomes tempting to heed the words of a prophet who says that only death will set them free.

Plague by Grant, Michael -- A deadly, flu-like epidemic and a plague of flesh-eating creatures threaten the lives of the children at Perdido Beach while Sam, Astrid, Caine, and Diana each struggle with doubts and uncertainties.

Tomorrow When the War Began by Marsden, John -- Imagine coming home from a weekend camping, only to find out your country has been invaded. Be sure to check out the entire series: 2)The Dead of Night 3)A Killing Frost 4)Darkness Be My Friend 5)Burning for Revenge 6)The Night is For Hunting 7)The Other Side of Dawn

]]> Katie Zimmermann / MCPL Customer Services Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:41:47 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=113&BlogPostID=9271

What I Saw and How I Lied by Blundell, Judy -- What would she lose by telling the truth?

The Christopher Killer: A Forensic Mystery by Ferguson, Alane -- A serial strangler is no match for a teen coroner.

Dead Girls Don't Write Letters by Giles, Gail -- So who's sleeping in her bed?

Kiss Me, Kill Me by Henderson, Lauren -- Are all first kisses this deadly?

Accelleration by McNamee, Graham -- What would you do if you found the diary of a serial killer?

Dead is the New Black by Perez, Marlene -- Cheerleaders are dropping like flies.

School for Dangerous Girls by Schrefer, Eliot -- Her goal: graduate from boarding school alive.

Project 17 by Stolarz, Laurie Faria -- Making a movie in an abandoned mental institution is never a good idea.

Naoki Urasawa's Monster by Urasawa, Naoki -- Doctor Tenma has created a monster.

Pretty Little Liars by Shepard, Sara -- I know all your secrets. -A

]]> Katie Zimmermann / MCPL Customer Services Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:55:16 GMT