2015 Beehive Book Award Winners

Paper Things

Paper  Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Ari's mom died four years ago and Ari and Gage have been living with their guardian, Janna, ever since. At age nineteen, Gage decides he cannot deal with Janna's rules and stipulations any longer and leaves the safety of Janna's home even though he hasn't found a place to live or even a full time job yet.  Both had promised their mom they would stay together and so Ari feels obligated to go with her brother.

Ari is finding out how hard it is to stay caught up with her homework and social life when she and Gage are bouncing around between shelters and sleeping in apartments of some of Gage's friends.

This is a tender story that shows the bond between brother and sister and how our society tends to judge those around us when we don't fully understand their circumstances. Yet, there are good people in the least expected places.

The Cipher

The Cipher by John C. Ford

Robert Smiley, Jr., is the son of encription-king, Robert Smiley, Sr. Forever in his dad's large shadow, "Smiles" shows fits and starts of initiative and intelligence but always seems to sink back into young adult slacker mode: video games, fast food... even his girl friend, Melanie, is a childhood friend grown up. Smiles is between jobs and between lives, having been kicked out of a prestigious prep school. He lives in an apartment near MIT where his only real friend is his brilliant but naive neighbor, Ben.

When Ben confesses to Smiles that he believes he has found the solution to a centuries-old math puzzle, the Riemann Hypothesis which is the basis for all modern encryption services, including Smiles' Dad's company, Smiles sees his chance to win fame and glory. He leads Ben into a clandestine meeting with the NSA. But things do not go as planned and things are not as they seem. The plot includes a kidnapping, hot tubs, a hot blonde, and $7 million dollars. The author manages to tie up all of the loose ends and bring the mystery to a satisfying conclusion.

There is nothing objectionable beyond a few make-out scenes, threats of violence, and an opening death that happens 'off screen.' While not a character study, Smiles, his father, and Melanie all evolve in small ways that are believable and worthy of some discussion. The plot is tightly-woven with enough twists and turns to keep this reader up into the night.

Review from Amazon

Beehive Book Awards

Kalahari

Kalahari by Jessica Khoury

Sarah has spent most of her life living in a tent while her zoologist parents did their research in the deserts of Africa. She has never had many outside friends, so when her dad takes on five city kids as part of a conservation exchange program to earn money for their latest project, she is not too excited about the prospect.

Shortly after the kids arrive in the Kalahari desert, her dad and the only other adult in the camp, Theo, hear about some poachers and set off to find out where they are. Sarah is not too happy that her dad has abandoned her, but he promised he would be back by nightfall.

When nightfall comes and then the morning without any sign of her dad, Sarah is not only worried about her dad, but she is angry at him as well, because she is now solely responsible for these city kids.

As Sarah sets out to find her dad and get the kids back to civilization, they discover things are not quite right in Kalahari and they soon find themselves on the run and trying to survive in the cruel climate of the desert. Sarah must use all of the skills she has learned throughout her life in the desert to help them survive and outrun the danger that surrounds them.

Kalahari is a YA sci-fi book that is fast paced and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. There are a few things in the book that are a little too unrealistic (like a parent leaving a teenager in charge of five other teenagers and zooming off in search of poachers) but other than that it is a fun, quick read.

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The Conspiracy of Us

 

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

Avery West is never in one place for long. Because of her mom's job, they are always on the move from one state to another, never in one place long enough to make friends. Ironically, Avery is not the new kid in school any more, Jack Bishop is and he is causing quite the stir with his "J.Crew" looks.

Things quickly begin to spiral out of control when Avery finds a picture of herself that Jack accidently dropped and then, another stranger shows up in town. Avery discovers that Jack and the stranger, Stellan, have something she has always wanted, information about her long lost father and his family. She makes an impulsive decision to go with Stellan with the promise of more info on her family and ends up on a plane to Paris. Avery is about to find out that her life will never be the same and that maybe her old life wasn't so bad.

This book is definitely a Young Adult book, but it was entertaining even if it was a little predictable and a little cliché.