I AM NUMBER FOUR
by Pittacus Lore
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Blurb from the book:
"They killed Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
John Smith is not your average teenager.
He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving those who hunt him will find and kill him.
But you can't run forever.
So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time, he makes some real friends. People he cares about - and who care about him. Never in John's short life has there been space for friendship, or even love.
But it's just a matter of time before John's secret is revealed.
He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed.
John is Number Four. He knows that he is next . . ."
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Why We Recommend...
This is a start to a great series! The first book sets up the backstory and focuses on John Smith (aka Number Four). He (along with nine others and their guardians) escapes the doomed planet Lorien when the Mogadorian army invades. They've been granted superpowers and it is their destiny to learn how to use their powers, fight the Mogadorians, and restore Lorien. However, the Mogadorians are desperate to kill them off before they get a chance to, but can only kill them in a certain order. Three are dead and John Smith is next.
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As the series progresses, the tension, drama, and action are ramped up, as the Mogadorians becomes more powerful and more dangerous. Will Earth suffer the same fate as the planet Lorien?
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DEPARTMENT 19
by Will Hill
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Blurb from the book:
"In a secret supernatural battle that's been raging for over a century, the stakes have just been raised – and they're not wooden anymore.
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DEPARTMENT 6 IS THE ARMY
DEPARTMENT 12 is MI5
DEPARTMENT 19 IS THE REASON YOU’RE ALIVE
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When Jamie Carpenter's mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government's most secret agency.
Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can't stand up against…"
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Why We Recommend...
This series takes the well-known characters of Dracula and Frankenstein's monster (who in this book takes the name Frankenstein) and puts them into today's world. Department 19 is like MI5/CIA with a small army, that directly tackles Vampires. The books are full of action and drama and a wealth of intriguing characters.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
by Jessica Brody
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Blurb from the book:
"The first novel-writing guide from the best-selling Save the Cat! story-structure series, which reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any novel a success.
Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing. Revealing the 15 "beats" (plot points) that comprise a successful story--from the opening image to the finale--this book lays out the Ten Story Genres (Monster in the House; Whydunit; Dude with a Problem) alongside quirky, original insights (Save the Cat; Shard of Glass) to help novelists craft a plot that will captivate--and a novel that will sell."
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Why We Recommend...
This book really is a must for any future author. It outlines the structure of a successful novel and it breaks down what elements you need in your novel and where. It gives plenty of examples from other books, so it really acts as a fantastic guide to sit beside you as you pen the next bestseller.
Renegades
by Marissa Meyer
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Blurb from the book:
Secret identities. Extraordinary powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.
The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies―humans with extraordinary abilities – who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone . . . except the villains they once overthrew.
Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice―and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.
From Marissa Meyer, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Heartless, comes Renegades a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal.
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Why We Recommend...
This book really is a must for any future author. It outlines the structure of a successful novel and it breaks down what elements you need in your novel and where. It gives plenty of examples from other books, so it really acts as a fantastic guide to sit beside you as you pen the next bestseller.