This is the world of nano technology a young adult novel of twenty-first century warfare in the human ecosystem, a fight for control.  Michael Grant has begun a new series in the computer game world on a micro scale where the human body is the battle ground.  There are also conflicts on the macro level, the regular life.
Vincent is the greatest nano warrior alive.  Noah and Sadie are recruited into this world into a secret cell not knowing what they are getting into.  Trained for a war they have no idea existed and can barely grasp the technology because it is so new.  Sadie's father pioneered much of it to aid medicine in healing severe conditions such as cancer and to fix the aneurysm Sadie has in her brain.  However when others weaponize the new technology a dark conspiracy emerges.  It is just a group of teen hackers who call themselves BZRK who are trying to save world leaders.  It is victory or madness.  This is a suitable fiction read for science units on robotics, nano technology and computer science.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

This is book one of a series of fantasy books that makes a good follow up to the Twilight series.  Everything is in it...vampires, werewolves, the fair folk, angels, fallen angels or demons, the Nephilim or Shadowhunters as they are called along with ordinary humans. You are introduced to each creature and it's kind as the plot unfolds.  Nothing is as it seems.  The plot twists and turns with unexpected surprises.  It all begins with the Pandemonium Club in New York City where the main character Clary Fray just is not expecting to witness a murder.  Nor does she expect to see three teenagers covered in odd markings, one of whom is called Jace (very handsome).  These are the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding planet Earth of demons while policing the werewolves and vampires.  Suddenly Clary's mother disappears and she is attacked.  How suddenly did she get the "sight"?  She is not supposed to be able to see in to the unseen world unless she is more than just human.  Questions abound that need answering as one thing leads to another.  If you like fantasy with a love triangle plus a mystery, it is suitable for older teens.

Reading Guide:

Discussion Guide: Cassandra Clare

Lit Lovers: City of Bones Discussion Questions

Reviews:

Book One: City of Bones

Good Reads on City of Bones

The Guardian: City of Bones

Film Trailer for the City of Bones

Film Review

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

This sequel to Under a War-torn Sky by L. M. Elliott is a historical novel that will bring reality of what it was like in France after World War II to the reader.  Henry Forester, nineteen years old can not forget the horrors of the Gestapo, fighting battles against the Luftwaffe and a small boy named Pierre who saved him.

Home in Virginia nightmares wake him up and he decides to face his unresolved memories by going back to France to find and aid Pierre, if he can find him.  Pierre lost all of his family in the war.  Henry is unprepared for the aftermath of war that involves starvation, shattered cities, the return of concentration camp survivors and the internal strife among the various political groups.  The last chapter, Afterword, gives real history and newer findings about the aftermath of World War II making this novel a worth while addition to any unit on World War II.

Reviews and Guides:
Reading Group Guide: 
http://www.adlit.org/pdfs/WWII/Troubled-Peace_reading-guide.pdf
Harper Collins Kids: a review
http://harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Troubled-Peace-L-M-Elliott/?isbn13=9780060744274&tctid=100
L. M. Elliot web site:
http://www.lmelliott.com/about_troubledpeace.php
Scholastic:
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753106

Wolf Storm

Stefan is a budding actor starring in his first movie. The movie crew and cast are on location in Slovakia, Eastern Europe in an old ski resort in the Carpathian Mountains.  The resort had been closed for years.  It was located on a flat plateau halfway up a rugged mountain and accessible by a narrow switchback road cut through a cliff with the surrounding mountains making access difficult at best.  It is snowing, as the filming begins with Stefan coming down the space ship ramp holding the collar of a black trained wolf.  He sees a wild wolf by the snack truck. The trained wolf Boris growls, crouching as if he
plans to run after it. The snow turns into a blizzard.  The cast and crew take a break with many going into town for the evening.  Left with just a few comrads, Stefan and the trained wolves begin to explore the main building.  An avalanch causes havoc, covering some of the movie trailers, trucks and part of the resort.
Meanwhile the wild wolves are hungry.  They are coming.  The roads and phone lines are down. What are Stefan and his friends going to do to survive?  This is a survival story of friendship, wits and a good read for middle school.

Reviews:
Good Reads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10468931-wolf-storm
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Storm-Dee-Garretson/product-reviews/0062000322

Shadow on the Mountain

   Shadow on the Mountain is at once a gripping biographical novel and a suspenseful tale of real history as fourteen year old Espen and his friends are caught up in the Nazi occupation of Norway.  While this piece of historical fiction has fictional names this story is based on the real-life adventures of a Norwegian spy during World War II and there are actual people, places and events that are woven into the narrative .
   Espen begins his start as a spy when his teacher asks him to begin delivering underground newspapers that tell the truth about what the Nazis are doing in Norway and other places.  Some of his buddies are doing the same thing.  They form a kind of club with an escape hiding place up in the mountains, just in case they need to flee to Sweden.
   Espen moves up into the role of courier, delivering coded messages and supplies to Resistance members when he meets Tante Marie at Fox Farm.
   He travels on skiis and on bicycle when he is not walking.  Some of his friends will betray him.  He will also find new friends and love.  Some of his friends will side with the Gestapo and try to track him when they become suspicious.  Who can he trust?  What is his sister up to?  How can he protect his family? This is a thrilling novel and is a great read for middle school students.  It is also a terrific read for World War II units.
Reviews:
School Library Journal
http://www.slj.com/2012/10/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-shadow-on-the-mountain/#_
Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/margi-preus/shadow-mountain-preus/
I have not found literature guides yet on this 2012 novel.

The Pale Assassin

The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott is a tale set in the opening days of the French Revolution in 1779.  Eugenie de Boncoeur and her brother Armand are under the care of their guardian who is an old aristrocrat used to iron clad rule.  Unaware that the guardian has contracted to marry Eugenie to le Fantome when she becomes 16 she lives in Paris society.  Le Fantome, a deadly assassin with revenge on his mind towards the Boncoeur family, is in contact with Robespierre, a lawyer, a key figure in the Revolution and has his spies about.   Armand is part of a secret group to rescue the king and must hide his sister from le Fantome lest he discover her when she becomes 16 and pursues the contract her guardian made.  A spoiled rich girl, Eugenie is used to outrageous privilege, but must face reality for there is no place in her country where she is safe.  The revolution becomes increasingly violent.  Eugenie is in the thick of surviving in Paris where she confronts spies, secret agents, double-crossing suitors, romance, and a suspenseful survival adventure. Living in poverty undercover, working as a milliners assistant she does what she can, learning to use her wits and endure.  The historical events are true with an outline in the back of the book; the author conveys the complex political realities of the times.  Many real people from the pages of history appear in the novel are listed in the cast of characters.  This is a historical and suspenseful read for grades 6-12.
Reviews
Kirkus
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/patricia-elliott/the-pale-assassin/
Teens Connect
http://ascplteens.akronlibrary.org/2009/11/30/book-review-the-pale-assassin/
Read Many Books
http://readmanybooks.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-of-pale-assassin-by-patricia.html

Never More

This is the last of the Maximum Ride series and worth every page.  The final novel begins with Angel perched on a rock cliff, wings spread out behind her.
She is a mess, dirty, scars, broken bones healing, and seeing future scenes she
does not fully understand.  Max and the rest of the flock of bird kids are dealing with clones created to divide them up, confuse them while other mad scientists are trying to capture them for their DNA.  It is a never ending business trying to save the world and escape the complex plots of scientists trying to own them through their experiments.  Their behavior raises many ethical questions. This novel has some unexpected twists as the last explosive event happens to change everything and the world as they know it.  Who can be trusted?  Who will be ready for the surprise ending?  Will there be a future? See other posts for guides, reviews, and posts on James Patterson.   My middle school students enjoy this entire series.  Here is a wish for more.  I recommend this for middle school grades and up.