I Am Still Alive

by Kate Alice Marshall

Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2018

One of the best hooks ever, “Hatchet meets the Revenant…” by S. A. Bodeen, describes this YA survival story in four perfect words. I gave this must-read an A+.

Jess Cooper’s Dad left her when she was an infant. Her mom raised her until she was killed in a car accident when Jess was 16. After months of rehab and foster homes, the state finally tracked down her dad, Carl Green, and she is flown to live with him in Alaska.

Only he lied. He keeps a mailing address in Alaska but lives off the grid in the wilderness of Canada. Carl’s best friend Griff meets Jess at the airport in Anchorage; they then drive and fly for hours to join her dad and his dog, Bo. It’s summer, but summer is short.

Jess is miserable, disabled, lonely, and out of her element. She wants to leave. Her dad promises it’s just for one year. He’s teaching her how to survive the long winter. She watches him set traps, learns about berries and other flora. She hunts with bow and arrow, learns to avoid predators, and how to cook over an open fire. A plane arrives, and it’s not Griff.

It’s too good a story for me to give it away here, so I won’t. But Jess and Bo have to learn to survive on their own. The things this author puts her antagonist through would make you think she doesn’t like her very much. But she made Jess strong!

Marshall used an unusual format that added to the power of this novel. Told in first-person point-of-view, she alternated with the backstory BEFORE she was alone in the wilderness and her survival AFTER.

When the BEFORE catches up with the AFTER, her goal becomes less of survival and more of revenge.

The writing is fast-paced. The main character is challenged beyond all belief, in an entirely plausible way, making it hard to put down.

Marshall took us into the beautiful, unforgiving wilderness. She also took us into a frantic and violent underworld. They collide in masterful prose.

To Best The Boys

By Mary Weber

Thomas Nelson, Harper Collins, Nashville, TN 2019

Rhen Tellur has been born a Lower and a girl. Two strikes against her in this old-world, some-what fantastical seaport village. She has a slight advantage over most of the Lowers as her Ma was born an Upper, one of the wealthy, and her Aunt, Uncle and BFF cousin Seleni still welcome her into their home and upscale parties.

Still, Rhen is more herself in the pubs with her rowdy guy friends. Or, in Da’s lab working on biological experiments in hopes of finding a cure for the mysterious illness which is paralyzing and killing a growing number of Lowers, including Rhen’s Ma.

Each year every household in the county receives an invitation to Mr. Holm’s estate for the contest. “All gentlepersons of university age (respectively seventeen to nineteen)are cordially invited to test for the esteemed annual scholarship given by Mr. Holm toward one full-ride fellowship at Stemwick Men’s University.”

Rhen Teller is smarter than any of the boys her age and wants to go to college. There's only one way to get there – on scholarship. So, she and best friend Selani dress as boys and enter the contest.

There is romance: Seleni and Beryll are cutely coquettish throughout the story. Victor, an Upper and childhood buddy of Rhen’s, believes her intelligence will enhance his political career. His arrogance has him assuming Rhen would never turn him down as he announces he will court her. And then there’s Lute, the Lower who Rhen has her eye on.

There is angst and danger: the contest can be brutal and harsh. Many have been injured over the years, some have died; generally at the hands of greedy bullies who’ll do anything to win. There are also fantastical creatures to avoid or more often combat.

There are moments of darkness and bright spots throughout. The group of teen friends starts out working together to escape the maze, locked room, and other tests Holms has created. 
There is betrayal.

The love story is interesting (I’m not big on romance), the contest exciting, the descriptions delicious, the characters are uniquely engaging. Told in first person POV, Rhen's voice carries the story. You will love her.

Thanks to my friend Dana Nuenighoff for the recommendation. I rate it an A.