When I read the review for The Scar Boys, I thought the author's name was familiar, but not from being on a book jacket. One quick Google search to jog my memory, and voila! The author, Len Vlahos, is the Executive Director of the Book Industry Study Group, and the former COO of the American Booksellers Association. YA author Sarah Zettel, on the other hand, has oodles of titles under her belt, and readers will be delighted with Palace of Spies, the first book in new series from this teen favorite. ZETTEL, Sarah. Palace of Spies. Houghton Harcourt. Nov. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780544074118. Gr 8 Up—Peggy Fitzroy didn't start life with an important identity. As an orphan, she lived with her uncle, aunt, and cousin Olivia. Life is uneventful and simple for Peggy. However, an unwanted arranged engagement with Sebastian Sandford leads to her being disowned, and with only one choice for survival. She must assume the identity of the deceased Francesca, a lady in waiting in the court of King George I. All seems well until it becomes clear that Francesca was somehow involved in a conspiracy with the Jacobites that led to her murder. Whoever killed Francesca might deliver the same fate to Peggy, but no one knows who was behind it. Also, amidst this mysterious death, there is a blossoming romance. Could Peggy be falling for Matthew Reade, the young artist? The Palace of Spies was actually very interesting. Considering it is historical fiction, I was surprised that I actually liked the book. I was pulled into the mystery of the murder of Francesca, and I enjoyed the twists and turns. Like most mysteries and adventures, there's a blooming romance involved, and I always do love a good romance. The most surprising part of the book was that people didn't notice that Peggy wasn't Francesca, which puzzled me. However, I still enjoyed the book, and I can't wait for the next title in the series. I recommend this to those who love a good murder mystery or historical fiction novel.—Vy M., age 15 VLAHOS, Len. The Scar Boys. Egmont USA . Jan. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781606844397. Gr 9 Up—The Scar Boys is the story of how being in a band impacted the life of Harbringer “Harry” Robert Francis Jones. Harry was almost struck by lightning when he was eight years old, leaving him with severe scars on his scalp, face, neck, and shoulders. During his hospital stay he was on a morphine drip and later became addicted to methadone. With the help of Dr. Kenneth “Kenny” Hutchinson, who is mentioned throughout the book, he gets off methadone. At school he meets his soon-to-be lifelong friend, Johnny Mckenna, with whom he later starts a band, the Scar Boys. As high school progresses, the band becomes more and more popular, eventually leading to them going on tour in a beat-up old van which causes some problems to arise. I thought this book was really good and was a fast read. In fact, I finished it in about two hours. I liked how the reader learns more about the characters as the book progresses. I also like how the characters are not so perfect that it makes the story unrealistic. This book balances the band’s story with relatable problems that all teens will face such as college, bullying, and relationships. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good read. In fact I was showing my friends some of the amusing parts as I read the book in the library!—Alexandra M., age 15