I like a good book in a series when I know I don’t have to read the books in order and the back story is loose enough that I get it within a few pages. Rachel Vincent’s My Soul to Save is book #2 in her “Soul Screamers” series and falls into that category.

Kaylee is a bean sidhe (banshee), as is the boy she has a serious crush on, Nash. The story opens with them attending an Eden concert, a well-known pop star, whose show was opened by a local rising talent, Addison Page. When Eden collapses on the stage and Kaylee realizes that her screaming talents didn’t foresee the death, she knows there’s something deeper going on.

You see, Kaylee’s talent as a bean sidhe is screaming when someone is nearing their death. Well, she does when the person who is dying has a soul. It is the soul being released that causes the scream.

Things go from bad to worse when she gets signs that Addison Page will be nearing the end of her short life, as well, and it’s up to Kaylee, Nash, and Tod — Nash’s dead brother who also happens to have paranormal attributes — to figure out what is going on and how they can stall the inevitable death of Addison and her younger sister Regan.

My Soul to Save is way outside my normal reading habits, and I didn’t find myself hating it as much as I’d expect. I think that Vincent does a good job of world building and she shares enough back story of each character to make them make sense to someone who doesn’t read much of this genre. There is a nice mix of adventure, mystery, and romance to make the story move along quickly, and the scenario is pretty interesting, given what Kaylee and company come to learn about why Eden died and why Addison and Regan are about to die, as well. There’s actually quite a bit of reality to this.

What I didn’t like, though, was the sudden game change in the last couple of chapters in the book. New rules were introduced and it really killed the action that had been going on throughout, and it also made me question if Vincent didn’t know how to tie up the story. Again, reading with eyes of a person unfamiliar with the paranormal genre, I felt teased and ripped off a bit by the end. It could have been stronger, more consistent with the text, and left me feeling excited to read the other titles in this series. Instead, I felt cheated and am not entirely compelled to read more.

My Soul to Save is published by Harlequin, so you can expect some of their trademark embedded in the book. I thought it was tastefully done, and I thought it was woven well into the story line. Two teens have a realistic crush relationship, where it is part of their lives and not the entirety of their lives (I mean, tracking down the reason pop stars are dying DOES take up a little time in one’s day).

Overall, it’s a nice addition to the genre. For fans of the new Harlequin Teen line, this is a good one, and for those who read the prior title in this series, My Soul to Take, this will be a natural choice. I thought the standalone qualities made this a book that stands out just a little more from others. But, don’t expect great writing and prepare to feel fleeced at the end.

Let me make an admission: I’ve never read a Walter Dean Myers book. So, I took a stab and read outside my comfort level on this one.

Reese is living in Promises — a juvenile detention facility — for committing the crime of stealing prescription pads from doctors and aided in the acquisition of drug deals. Since he’s been a good inmate, he’s given the opportunity to take a part-time job at Evergreen, which is a home for the elderly. The job is a privilege and gives him both freedom from his place in jail, and it is meant to teach him responsibility, obedience, and respect for himself and others. It is here he meets Mr. Hooft, an elderly gentleman who has a tremendous impact on Reese’s beliefs about who he is and who he can become.

Of course, it’s not that simple. About half way through the story, there is a big bomb dropped upon Reese, who has been getting himself in trouble trying to defend some of his buddies. When this arises, it is Reese who must decide what is important to him and how he can get himself out of Promises into a fulfilling life for himself and Icy — the sister he adores.

Lockdown was exceptionally well written, and the character development kept me wanting more. Although this won’t rank as one of my favorite reads, primarily because it focused on a topic I’m unfamiliar with and don’t typically seek out, this is a book that has definite appeal to many audiences.

One of the real challenges I had was with the secondary characters: I could not distinguish among the various juvenile inmates nor the adults in Reese’s life. I found that Reese himself was very well developed, and his sister Icy had a unique and memorable voice. Likewise, Mr. Hooft kept me coming back as a reader, as I felt the story he told Reese about his time in and immediately after the Vietnam War drew great parallels to Reese’s own challenges with keeping on the right side of the law.

Myers writes to impart a lesson, but I felt throughout the entirety of Lockdown that I was not bring preached at. I’m not the real audience for this title, but even the target group will not feel they’re being told how to be or act. Instead, the lessons are weaved well enough into action and actual story telling that they feel part of the plot rather than the entire plot itself.

If you’re looking for a book for a boy who lives on the fringes, has found himself in trouble before, or seems generally lost, this is an excellent choice. Likewise, this is a book that will appeal to both boys and girls and would make a perfect discussion title. Myers has certainly carved himself a niche in the young adult world, and he will have staying power.

Lockdown will be published February 2.