John Dies at the End by David Wong 384 pages

I decided to listen to this book, because the sequel titles cracked me up and I remember really liking the movie.  The book is insane!  I mean, it's hilarious and awful and twisted and...oh, you wouldn't believe me if I tried to explain...  If you read it or listen to it, don't get distracted and miss even a paragraph, you'll be hopelessly lost in the story.  That much happens in a very short time!  This mix of horror, sci-fi and wacky humor was really fun.  I will say that some outdated and non-P.C. is used frequently, so if that stuff really upsets you, give this one a pass.  If you can skim that over and just roll with the story, I think it's worth the effort, especially if you like roller coasters that move in more than just our 3 dimensions. 

The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell 309 pages

Marnie and her younger sister Nellie live in a housing estate in Glasgow. Their parents have disappeared. Which isn’t really a problem for the girls, they like it like that. Marnie only has to make it through the year without anyone knowing to avoid going into foster care and being separated from her sister. If it were not for Social Services, a long lost relative recently found, a drug dealer who wants his money back and an odd assortment of wacky characters, the girls lives wouldn’t seem nearly so bleak.

But then an elderly neighbor with issues of his own and inexplicably, a Russian mobster on the run, reach out to the girls and once again hope is on the horizon and just maybe everything will work out.

The Death of Bees is a beautifully written, achingly sad, raw at times, hilariously funny and always hopeful, read in one sitting, book. I absolutely loved it!

The Last Alibi by David Ellis 465 pgs.

On a day when lawyer Jason Kolarich is strung out on prescription drugs, James Drinker comes into his office claiming that even though he is innocent of the murders of two women he will probably be the main suspect since he was linked to both victims. He believes he is being framed and somehow in the course of the conversation Jason tells him all the best ways one can frame a person for a crime. Imagine Jason’s surprise when it turns out he’s the one being framed and is then arrested for murder. After that it’s a race against time to discover Drinker’s true identity without violating lawyer/client confidentiality and to save himself. This is a can’t-put-it-down-no-matter-what kind of a book.

Fallout By Ellen Hopkins 665 pages

Fallout is the last book in the Crank series. The final book is the story of Kristina’s teenage kids.  Fallout tells you the story of how Hunter, Summer and Autumn all suffered because of their parent's choices.  You get to read the struggles that each teen faced growing up.  Having parents that were never there for them. Being raised by grandparents, an alcoholic father, and even foster homes. Finding out they have other siblings they never knew about, and then to meet them all on Christmas Day.  Will Hunter, Summer or Autumn turn to alcohol or meth? Find out when you read Fallout.

I really enjoyed this series.  I would recommend this not only to teens (as it is a teen series), but to adults as well.  To me this was one of those series you just wanted to keep reading because you wanted to know what happened next or how it would end.

Glass By: Ellen Hopkins 681 pages

Glass is the second book in the Crank series. It continues to take you down Kristina's path with the monster. It gives you a glimpse of how hard it is to stop meth and the consequences of continuing to take it.  For a long time Kristina was able to hide the fact that she was using from her family.  But the sudden loss of appetite, weight loss, days of not sleeping and then the hard crashes were a dead give away.  Kristina is faced with some important decisions when she finds out that she's pregnant.  Does she keep the baby? Does she stop using meth?  Find out when you read this roller coaster of a story.

Crank By Ellen Hopkins 537 pages

Crank is a young adult book about a teenage girl named Kristina, who gets turned onto meth, better known as the Monster while visiting her dad for the summer.  A boy she met while there gave her a little taste and she was hooked. This book takes you down her path with the monster and tells you the affects of taking this drug.

Crank is the first book in a series of three books (Glass, Fallout).  These books are written in poetry form, but follow an amazing story.  I really like the format in which Ellen Hopkins writes.  She has other series and also some stand alone titles written the same way.