THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: TRAIL OF FATE, Book #2 by Michael P. Spradlin

The tale of Tristan, a young squire of the Knights of the Templar, continues. At the end of KEEPER OF THE GRAIL Book #1, Tristan's fate was in question as he sailed into a horrible storm. Book #2 begins as Tristan wakes to discover that he has survived, but he doesn't know where he has washed ashore or what is in store for him.

When he awakes he is surrounded by a half dozen people with weapons drawn. Tristan is able to use his limited French to determine the leader of the group is a beautiful young woman named Celia, and he has indeed washed ashore along the coast of France.

Soon Tristan's partners, Robard and Maryam, make an unexpected appearance and the new adventures begin. Tristan's old friends pledge to defend him as he decides to help Celia and her followers outwit the High Counsel of France. What follows is one trick after another as Tristan attempts to throw the High Counsel off the Cathars' trail.

Just when Tristan thinks all he has to do is help the Cathars and then resume his journey to deliver the Grail, his enemy Sir Hugh, arrives to make things difficult. Sir Hugh has supposedly joined forces with the High Counsel to rid the region of Cathars, but his real objective is to find Tristan and seize the precious Grail for himself.

Book #2 is filled with enough sword fights, bows and arrows and crossbows, battering rams, and flaming pots of liquid lard to satisfy any teen looking for adventure. Author Michael P. Spradlin takes his readers into a century long ago but makes it seem alive and relevant today. Tristan is a likeable hero with incredible courage, a clever mind, and a sense of humor one doesn't expect in a character from the middle ages. It is going to be difficult to wait for Book #3 to find out where Tristan's adventures will take him next.

I'M TOOTING MY OWN HORN ...

A big thank you to Sarah Ockler, author of TWENTY BOY SUMMER, for her blogger interview series.

My interview is posted on her Flip It Friday post today! Check it out and you'll get to find out all my innermost thoughts. Yikes!!

PARALYZED by Jeff Rud

It's senior year for linebacker Reggie Scott. He has just made a fabulous interception that could lead to a win for his team. Everything is terrific until he turns around and sees Nate Brown from the opposing team lying motionless on the field.

Even though Reggie's coaches and his parents assure him that Nate's injury is the result of Nate's poor tackle, Reggie blames himself for what happened. Yes, coaching and on the field experience tell players not to lead with their helmet when they tackle, but that knowing Nate may never walk again is making getting back on the field incredibly difficult for Reggie.

PARALYZED by Jeff Rud presents an interesting view of a sports injury. The focus is on a healthy player tackled by the injured athlete and left feeling responsible for the accident. Emotions run high with the injured player's family causing bad press in the sports section and the threat of suspension and a lawsuit. All this combined with some intense play-by-play action on the field creates a sports story sure to interest reluctant teen readers.

"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and so have my students. On October 12 I'll be waiting in line if necessary to get a copy of #4.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS
by Jeff Kinney

Summary courtesy of Barnes & Noble:

"It's summer vacation, the weather's great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where's Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn.

Greg, a self-confessed "indoor person," is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg's mom has a different vision for an ideal summer…one packed with outdoor activities and "family togetherness."

Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?"

THE TEAR COLLECTOR by Patrick Jones

Vampires, zombies, and werewolves seem to be dominating young adult literature, but Patrick Jones has created another life form with enough similarities to make it popular, but enough uniqueness to possibly make it a far more disturbing read. Enter THE TEAR COLLECTOR.

News reports around Flint, Michigan, have been filled with reports of young boys disappearing, taken right off the street, from playgrounds and backyards. Even more mysterious is their return several days later, terrorized but alive.

Someone paying close attention to these news reports is Cassandra Gray. She has an idea who or rather what might be responsible, but it is her duty to protect and serve the family that might be involved. Cass has been given the task of collecting the sadness and sorrow of humans in the form of their tears and bringing it back to a small circle of those dependent on her for their survival. Not vampires dependent on the blood of their victims, but another non-human form that draws energy found in the tears of its victims.

Cass has always accepted her role willingly. She has become the trusted friend of many in order to offer her shoulder during times of crisis. In Lapeer High School the drama of everyday life provides tears aplenty. But Cass's family responsibility is becoming clouded by the sudden death of her best friend and the appearance of a boy who has her feeling things she never has before.

THE TEAR COLLECTOR by Patrick Jones adds a new dimension to the current trend in YA lit. With the use of sorrow and tears, he has chosen a direction I found more believable than the vampire/zombie fare of recent years. Set in a high school where emotions run amok on the best of days, having tears represent the life-sustaining power required for this alternate life form seems more realistic than glistening fangs and dripping blood. Although this novel breaks from Jones's traditional genre, it reads well and will break open a whole new audience for his work.

"TEASER TUESDAY"

Here's my TEASER TUESDAY #9.

Once again the idea is the original creation of SHOULD BE READING.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Let the book fall open to a random page.
3. Share with us two "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
4. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from. That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
5. Please avoid spoilers!
6. Than add yours to the list at Should Be Reading.

PARALYZED
by Jeff Rud
p. 2

"It fell into my left arm, and I slapped both hands over it. Interception!"

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