Two Book Blurbs: THE ART OF SECRETS and PANIC

 

THE ART OF SECRETS, by James Klise, is a fun upper middle grade/young YA novel, which uses an interesting format to tell its story. Short chapters alternate between a full cast of characters, each advancing the story while giving his or her own unique spin to the action.

When Saba Khan's apartment is gutted in a fire, the community rallies around her. Students at her high school organize an auction to benefit the family. Found among the donated items is a portfolio of paintings worth millions of dollars, prompting all kinds of questions to arise--where did it come from? whose is it now? who should benefit from its sale? and what is the truth, really?

Klise weaves a satisfying mystery here and, yes, EVERYBODY has secrets!!

 

The YA novel PANIC, by Lauren Oliver (author of the dystopian Delerium, trilogy), showcases a dangerous, high stakes game played by graduating seniors in a dead-end town.

One lucky person from Carp High will win $67,000 by completing all the challenges. But, in the seven years of playing, there have been four deaths and one person paralyzed. Heather Nill never thought she would be brave enough to play. But when her boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her for someone else, Heather finds herself joining the fray. Heather's friend Natalie plays for a chance to go to Hollywood, Dodge Mason plays for revenge, and Bishop Marks, who doesn't play, just wants them all to survive.

The plot drives this story, relentlessly amping up the tension in new and unexpected ways. Told in alternating chapters by Heather and Dodge, Panic brings the intensity of The Hunger Games to this tale of contemporary upstate New York. 


A big thanks to Lynn Becker for the book blurbs!
http://www.lynnbeckerbooks.com/ 
Tales From the Rushmore Kid, contributor