Boneshaker (Cherie Priest)

I couldn't really get into this book. I gave it over 100 pages, but I never really connected with the main character. The setting was interesting, but not really compelling for me. I'm not a big fan of steampunk, so that's probably part of the reason. Mostly, though, it was just a lack of emotional connection. It might work for other people, but apparently not for me.

Among Others (Jo Walton)

This is a lovely and touching story about a troubled teen girl finding her way in an uncomfortable world. She has escaped from her mad, magical mother in Wales to live with a father she never met in England and is sent to a posh boarding school, where she has trouble fitting in. Her lifeline is books, particularly SF and fantasy books, and they help her keep herself grounded and find others she can belong with. The magic and the fairies in the story are unusual and entirely convincing, as is her struggles with friendships, boys, teachers, and the health issues she's been left with due to her battle with her mother. I especially enjoyed it because I've read most, though not nearly all, of the books she refers to on practically every page, and could compare my opinions with hers. Recommended.

All Clear (Connie Willis)

This is the second half of a single novel, published in two parts (the first part was Blackout). It belongs to Willis's time travel universe, which I enjoy a lot. Aside from being much too long, this is another good story in this setting. Three historians go back in time to the London Blitz and become trapped, unable to get back to their present (our future - 2060). The story describes their attempts to find each other, then to figure out what is wrong and how to get out. The backdrop of WWII London is compelling, making "England's finest hour" vivid and underlining the strength and courage of the people who lived through it. There is too much redundancy (too many newspaper clues, too many near misses, too many exploits of the Hodbins), and then the very end is not given quite enough (who exactly is he?), but it is still very much enjoyable.

Fracture (Megan Miranda)

This story is written for young adults, but it deals with challenging situations, including sex and death. The young heroine falls through the ice on a pond and is revived after too long in the water. Her brain scans show extensive damage, but she seems unimpaired, a real medical miracle. However, she find herself with disturbing behaviors she didn't have before, which cause her family strains with her family and her friends, including a fragile teenage romance. The story is dark, but ultimately she is able to find the light and bring herself back to the side of life.