Changers: Kim (Changers #3)

Changers: Book 3: Kim by T. Cooper and Allison Glock-Cooper is the third book in the Changers series - about a separate race of humans. They experience relationships with the same people through the eyes of four different versions of themselves through their high school years.

Ethan woke up on the first day of high school as Drew, spent sophomore year as Oryon and is now changing into Kim. The shocking part is not knowing who you will become until you wake up that first morning. Overnight Oryon, a black football player, woke up as Kim, an overweight Filipina. She goes to the same school as last year, but as a new person.

Living different versions gives Changers a chance to see past the superficial. Being treated differently by the same people when you are same on the inside opens their eyes to the prejudice and injustice in the world. And gives them a chance to change people's opinions.

Changers is a great YA series that highlights the differences and similarities in us all. Kim might by my favorite version so far, but book three feels a bit like a middle novel - setting things up for book four. But the ending makes readers hope for a quick release of that forth book!

Cooper, T. (2016). Changers: Kim. New York: Black Sheep.

Romancing the Inventor (Supernatural Society Novella #1)

Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger is the first Supernatural Society Novella set in the same work as her Parasol Protectorate, Finishing School and Custard Protocol series. This one takes place a few years after the end of the Parasol Protectorate series finishes.

Genevieve Lefoux has been one of my favorite characters in these series. Now she has a novella focusing on her - or rather one in which the main character's attention is completely focused on her.

Madam Lefoux is an inventor. Even as a child she created useful gadgets. Now she is indentured to a vampire hive as punishment. She spends all of her time in the potting shed, come laboratory.

Imogene Hale is a parlourmaid. Her family needed the income and Imogene has no desire to marry, so she got hired at the local vampire hive. When she is sent to take a lunch tray to the potting shed, she becomes intrigued by Madam Lefoux. And finds ways to be assigned the duty more often.

Carriger has created a sweet romance story set in an alternate history England. Fans of the Carriger series will enjoy this novella and be happy that Vieve has finally found someone to help her get over her old lost love.

Carriger, Gail. (2016). Romancing the Inventor. ?: Gail Carriger LLC.

Night School (Jack Reacher #21)

Night School by Lee Child is the 21st book in his Jack Reacher series - a retired Army MP who wanders the US stumbling onto situations that need to be resolved. This novel is a jump back to his time in the Army.

In 1996, Jack Reacher is a major in the US Army military police. He is an investigator who sees things that others often miss.

Coming off of a successful mission, Reacher is given a medal and told he is going back to school. The vague title of the class sounds like improving agency cooperation with other US alphabet groups. But really it is a black hole - an assignment so boring that no one will look for him while he works with two agents (FBI and CIA).

The CIA has an asset in Germany who is part of a new group out of the Middle East. The asset overheard a messenger say that the American wants one hundred million. Of course, this set the NSA in motion. They don't know what is going on, but it must be big.

With so little information the team, supplemented by helper of their choice, can try to figure out what would be worth that much, or try to find the messenger for the next part of the negotiation - without burning the asset. Reacher calls his favorite sergeant, Francis Neagley. One of my favorite supporting characters in any series, I was thrilled to get another book with Neagley!

Child's series is filled with great reads. Fans of mystery, suspense, and characters with their own, unbending sense of right and wrong, will love this series.

Child, Lee. (2016). Night School. New York: Delacourte Press.

Echoes of Honor (Honor Harrington 8)

Echoes of Honor by David Weber is the eighth book in his Honor Harrington science fiction series.

Manticore and its allies are at war with the People's Republic of Haven. Although Haven is under a new government and the war began under the old, it continues. Many lives have been lost along the way. Most battles have gone in favor of Manticore, but the PRH has gotten some hit in.

Right now the people in Manticore think that their beloved Commander, Honor Harrington, has been captured and executed. They do not know that on top of forging a video of her hanging, she and a small team escaped the ship while in orbit over the prison planet of Hell.

They are now stranded on a planet with hundreds of thousands of prisoners and the State Security guards. The people are kept in line by being place in far apart camps. None of the plants on Hell are edible. The only source of food is the monthly delivery by the guards. Anyone who tries to rebel or attack the deliver, gets no more food. The guards live on an island miles and miles at sea and from the nearest camp.

Honor's people have a few advantages over the prisoners. They have two small ships equipped for battle, their own rations, and (most importantly) no one knows they are there. If they can come up with a plan and bring some prisoners onto their side, they will attempt to take over the planet.

Amazing series. If you are a science fiction fan or a fan of military fiction or just good storytelling, read it.

Weber, David. (1998). Echoes of Honor. New York: BAEN.