Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Margaret Peterson Haddix is the prolific author of many YA books and series including the currently popular Missing series.  She has also penned the Shadow Children Sequence a series of novels about a world that has become overpopulated and was struck by famine.  After emerging from the turmoil the government has put strict population laws into place making and child born to a family with two children illegal.

Luke Garner is a third child, a hidden child and when the government takes away the wooded land behind his house and builds a new subdivision Luke is no longer allowed to even go outside.  He spends his days reading and looking out of the windows at his neighbors homes until one day when everything changes and Luke sees a face in a window after the family had gone to work and school.  Could this be another child?

After a daring attempt to go to the house Luke discovers his suspicions were correct, he has met Jen.  Unlike Luke’s family Jen’s is rich and are considered Barons which gives them perks like junk food, a security system, and a computer.  It is through this computer that Jen connects with other third children and they are planning a rally to let the world know that they exist.  In a world that has deemed third children illegal how far will the government go to stop them?

Ghosts Caught on Film by Dr. Melvyn Willin

Happy Halloween!  Ghosts Caught on Film delivers exactly what the title promises.  Dr. Willin has collected photos from around the world of the unexplained apparitions.  Each photo is accompanied by an explanation of what is going on in the photo as well as expert photo analysis to determine its validity.

This is a creepy little book that is perfect for the holiday.  Ghosts Caught on Film is one of those books that will be constantly pawed over by teens and kids with a love for the paranormal.

Noise by Tsutomu Nihei

Detective Musubi Susono is investigating a series of disturbing child kidnappings.  While at the crime scene Musubi’s partner is abducted.  Instead of being able to look further into the case she is dismissed from police duty.  The kidnapping has been committed by a terrorist group called “the Order”.  The Order is trying to blend humans with technology to become one with the Netsphere.  As Musubi peruses the Order she falls victim her self.

Noise takes place in the Blame! world but it is a prequel and explains how the future has become a world of miles high machines and buildings.  The artwork is sparse as is the dialogue but the overall impact of the manga is not affected.  Great for crossover graphic novel readers looking for an entry into manga.

Lost Season 1 by Abrams, Lieber, Lindelof

I sincerely wonder if the title of Lost is about the survivors or the viewers. I’m not complaining, haters of the show constantly criticize the confusing and twisting plot. I think Lost is a lot like Jaws in that you don’t see the monsters and you feel just as terrified as the characters. For those of you who have totally missed out on this phenomenon, let me fill you in: Plane crashes, most survive, camp on beach, others come, radio french chick, polar bear?, camp in jungle, creepy music, another plane!, some die, raft made, baby born, creepy whispers, “others” coming, hatch found, Sun speaks english, Black Rock, 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42, dynamite, hatch opens, roll credits. OK now we’re all caught up.

As a show, Lost ranks among the greatest. The suspense is great, I can’t believe people watched this week after week, I highly recommend the DVD. Once you get started it’s ridiculous, you won’t get any sleep. Because everyone asks, Charlie is my favorite character in season 1, I think is the most sincere eve if often misguided. If you’ve ever thought about trying the show, do it, take the plunge, you won’t be disappointed.

Plus, check out the bonus features and watch Jimmy Kimmel tour the Island, pure comic genius!