A Killing Frost by John Marsden

This is the third installment of the saga begun in Tomorrow, When the War Began and continued in The Dead of Night. Six months have passed since an invading army attacked Australia. Ellie and her band of teenage guerrilla fighters are rapidly becoming harder, more jaded, and less inhibited. Their plan this time is to destroy the port at Cobbler's Bay, a strategic harbor for the enemy. Throughout most of the book, the young fighters outwit the bad guys and manage to keep just one step ahead of them. However, they are captured and taken to a maximum-security prison. There they are certain to be sentenced to death for their activities. This book's main intention, aside from great storytelling, is to show that war is not neat and tidy. As in the other titles, Marsden poses several questions about right and wrong, the nature of evil, and what human beings are capable of enduring under extreme circumstances.

The Dead by Charlie Higson

Jack and Ed, best friends, are the main focus of the book, as two radically different leaders. Jack, formerly shy and self-conscious, is now a headstrong fighter, eager to kill the `sickos' when they attack. Ed, previously popular and confident, is traumatized by the violence and unable to fight. He learns to lead in other ways, but can't help feeling like he is losing Jack's respect. The real treat however, is the vast host of secondary characters. From Bam, a gung-ho jock, to DogNut, a crazy but tough fighter, Higson gives them each a distinct personality and purpose. Higson doesn't treat the band of 14 and 15 year olds as young children, either. They make smart and sometimes not so smart decisions and they don't descend into chaos like the children in Lord of the Flies. In addition, because his characters are so capable, Higson rarely resorts to the type of dues ex machina so often found in zombie fiction, like the serendipitous cache of guns and food or a convenient salvation from another group as the zombies close in. Consider a situation when the party finds a museum full of guns, but no ammo. In their typical resourceful style, the kids attach bayonets or use the guns as clubs, rather than throwing them away as if they are useless. Keeping with zombie tradition, the ruthless undead don't discriminate between your favorite character and the one you hate the most. The death count is high, the violence intense, and the suspense tight enough to keep you up at night. While the epilogue occurs a whole year later, most of the book takes place in a few frantic days. The characters are always in motion physically and emotionally. Bottom line: This is one of the best zombie books ever written, extremely fast-paced, occasionally funny, and always smart. It doesn't stoop to quick fixes or cheap scares, has well drawn characters, and is a perfect example of how resourceful kids can be after tragedy.

The Dead of Night by John Marsden

Marsden picks up right where Tomorrow, When the War Began left off. A few months have passed since Ellie and six of her friends returned from a camping trip deep in the Australian outback to find their country invaded by an unidentified, non-English-speaking nation. This book opens with a brief recounting of what happened in the previous novel; two members of the group, Corrie and Kevin, are still missing. Homer, a self-appointed leader, rallies the others together to track them down. They discover that Kevin has been imprisoned, and Corrie is alive, but in a coma. The teens continue their guerrilla activities, hoping to get a chance to rescue Kevin. As in the previous book, Ellie narrates and keeps a written record of the group's activities and experiences. These realistically depicted human conflicts make the book much more than just an exciting apocalyptic adventure. In the end, only five members of the original seven remain with the group, but they are still committed to fighting the enemy. Hope is alive. Although this sequel can stand on its own, readers of Tomorrow will find it far more satisfying.

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

In this dystopian thriller set in London, everyone over 16 is dead or diseased, and kids are in constant danger of being eaten by boil-infested grown-ups who roam the streets like zombies looking for children to kill. Led by teens Arran and Maxie and armed with makeshift weapons, a group of kids sets out from the uncertain safety of an abandoned supermarket to travel to Buckingham Palace, where a young messenger promises that food, medicine, and a safe haven are available. One youngster selfishly decides to stay behind with a secret stash of food and is there to tell Small Sam, who had been abducted and feared dead, where the others (including his sister, Ella) have headed. Sam's quest to find Ella parallels the story of the large group with similar run-ins with marauding adults and mistrustful children who scavenge about the city. The bleak setting is filled with decay, danger, and puss-oozing parents who have turned into butchers. On arriving at Buckingham Palace, Maxie decides that David, the teen leader there, is too tyrannical, and she must regain control of her brood (with the help of a rival gang's leader, Blue) and convince them to leave for a new location.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

This series has been one of my favorites for a long time and I finally found it at the bookstore. I was so excited, I almost started dancing right in the middle of the store. Anyway, Australian teenager Ellie and six of her friends (Homer, Corrie, Kevin, Fi, Lee, and Robyn) return from a winter break camping trip to find their homes burned or deserted, their families imprisoned, and their country occupied by a foreign military force. As their shock wears off, the seven decide they must stick together if they are to survive. After a life-threatening skirmish with the occupiers, the teens retreat to their isolated campsite in the bush country and make plans to fight a guerilla war against the invaders. Writing in a distinct voice and showing intelligence and sensitivity, Ellie recounts their courageous battles against the Goliath in control of their land. She also records her feelings and observations about the romantic partnerships that develop within her small circle of friends, and shows how they mature and blossom during this time of crisis. Though readers are left wondering whether these heroes and heroines will survive, Ellie's honest and clear narration makes this coming-of-age adventure a story they won't forget.

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

When her semi-wealthy stepfather passed away, Noelle and her mother had to move to a small apartment and cut down on the luxuries they'd previously been used to. Living in a wealthy area, this made life hard for Noelle at school - where fitting in is the key to surviving high school. The students, most coming from the same wealthy area, are snobby and cliquish. The people who don't fit into this mold are harassed. Noelle's home life is just as bad. Her mother treats her horribly, neglects to buy her the things she needs, and Noelle has to scrounge around for her lunch every day so she won't starve. Noelle is just trying to survive the last couple of days until summer comes. When the bullying of one of her friends goes to far, Noelle decides to try to fix things. With her newfound love Julian at her side, she decides to take on the bullies and try to change things at her school.

Divergent by Veronica Ross

This book is amazing and extremely exciting. We first get to know the lifestyle of Beatrice, a sixteen year old girl, in a dystopian world, where there are five factions of people: Abnegation, who put others before their own needs and where Beatrice is currently from, the Dauntless, who are brave and fearless, the Erudite, who crave knowledge, the Amity, who are peaceful, and the Candor, who are honest. Before Choosing Day, where each sixteen year old will decide which faction they wish to devote their life to, is a simulated aptitude test that will tell Beatrice which faction she would fit in most with...but for her, life will never be simple. Instead of having just one of these traits, as is normal, Beatrice possesses at least three, which classifies her as Divergent. This makes her a dangerous person for reasons she doesn't understand. She has to keep this information to herself or risk being killed, so she can't find the answers she craves. Beatrice ultimately has to make a decision that will change the rest of her life: stay with her family or choose what would really make her happy. If she lets her guard down, she faces becoming factionless, without friends or family. As she finds love, she finds another thing she never thought she would: herself.