Books with author Cara Siera

High school is tough. Freshman Joy Preston expects it to be even more so because (1.) she’s the new kid at school and (2.) she’s a science geek.Joy’s unhappy expectations are overturned when a cute boy stops by her new house to welcome the family to the neighborhood, and some of the popular girls adopt her into their group. Joy’s first weeks at Worthington High are nothing short of blissful as she flirts with her new crush and hangs out with her new friends. Excitement runs high as the biggest event of the new school year approaches - the yearly pool party at James’ house on the last warm day of fall.One of Joy’s new friends, the puzzling and brooding Laura, offers portentous words as the girls walk to the pool party - Joy will have to choose between James, her crush, and Jonah, her friend and lab partner. “You will have to choose,” she says. “You can only have one. Tonight you choose, and you will lose the other.”Joy is unnerved - both by Laura’s words and her own insecurities. She’s out of her element, a nerdy young woman surrounded by her “cool” and “popular” and beautiful classmates. They’re all showing off their tanned and toned bodies, while Joy stands uncomfortably in her one-piece bathing suite. She soon relaxes and finds herself enjoying the company of both the boys - until her worst fears come true.Laughter. Jeering. Humiliation. These were the things Joy feared most. These were the things she had expected at her new school, but she had not yet experienced. Joy notices signs of jealousy for her attentions. Then she, James, and Jonah are tackled by a muddy dog and showered with hor devours before falling into the swimming pool. When she surfaces, everyone is laughing, pointing. She leaves in tears, embarrassed and with a deep feeling of loss. She believes that neither of the boys will want her after the entire school laughed at her.Joy takes solace in a family vacation during the break from school that follows - she has several days before she has to face any of her classmates again. Soon, though, reality is turned on its head. Unusual things begin to happen that make Joy feel as if she’s living in a cartoon.First, she’s almost eaten by a giant, orange anime-style fish while fishing with her father. Then, men who fit the archetype of “spies” - dark glasses and tuxedos - begin chasing them. An encounter with Laura, a Wizard of Oz style “horse of a different color,” an eerie glow, and an unusual carnival follow. When Joy can outrun these nonsensical occurrences no more, she is overtaken by the “spies,” wielding guns that shoot green goo, putting kids in a compliant, zombie-like state. Then, the most surprising thing of all occurs. James, who had been her crush until her humiliation at his pool party, arrives on a hovercraft to rescue her. He tells her that a kiss will break the spell of the goo. Assuming she’s dreaming, she complies.Later, at a secret scientific installation, Joy learns that unusual things such as she’s witnessed have been recently recorded and studied. Her father, unbeknownst to his family, was involved in the work - and he has been abducted. James and Joy are called upon to conduct an investigation. They, along with Jonah, Laura, Brooke, and Joanie, soon find themselves transported via wormhole to another world.This world has been built so as to resemble a child’s fantasy - or to replace a lost childhood. Appearances that were aberrant and strange on earth are common there - unnatural horses and other creatures, castles, androids dressed as “spies,” and candy that doubles as a mind control agent. Laura seems to be deeply involved, either as a victim or a mastermind. Who is Laura? Will Joy find her father amid this jumbled reality? Can she win back the hearts of James or Jonah? Will they ever get back home?

"The animals that remain, both those in captivity and those without, are henceforth to be treated as the most precious of relics. Just as we treasure and preserve ancient masterpieces of art in our museums, so must we take all caution to protect and extend all effort to preserve these lives. Their future depends on us. Our future depends on them.They are the relics of this Earth."- A Curator's Guide to Effective Species PreservationIn the distant future, scientists, activists, and politicians from all over the world met at what came to be called the Critical Protection Summit. Catastrophic climate change, world war, civil war, and nuclear detonation had wreaked havoc, not only on the human population, but on every environment on the planet. Animal and plant populations declined rapidly, resulting in food shortage. The pollution was so great and so few plants remained that for a time, breathing air was rationed—factories were established to extract oxygen from water. Man had finally come to realize the importance of the natural world.To avert further catastrophe, the Council on the Protection of Species was established. Their mission was to preserve and restore what was left of planet Earth's ecology. Nature Stations were inaugurated with brilliant ribbon-cutting ceremonies in key locations around the world. Representatives of as many species as possible were captured and brought to these facilities—huge, sprawling zoos where the animals would be cared for and taught to do amazing things. The goal? To increase animal and plant populations and reintroduce them into the wild.For a time, these operations were successful. Each Station employed keepers, who cared for the animal's daily needs; docents, who trained new keepers and guided the public on tours of the facilities; and a curator, who managed each Nature Station under the direction of the Council. People flocked to the Stations to get a glimpse of creatures they could no longer see in their own backyards. Saplings were grown in enormous greenhouses to replant forests. People could breath easily again—literally. Young animals were released each year at festive Send-Off Ceremonies.In time, however, appreciation for the Nature Stations dwindled. Funding all but ceased, and the Council was disbanded. Political unrest made communication with far away Stations impossible. Rumors from other places say some Nature Stations have been abandoned; some sell their animals illegally to collectors on the black market; and a few may even be training their animals for dangerous purposes.Despite these fears, you love the Nature Station. You learn just how important your job is—yours may be the only Nature Station still working to preserve the endangered plants and animals. Only you can save the world in this imaginative and informative card game.

High school is tough. Freshman Joy Preston expects it to be even more so because (1.) she’s the new kid at school and (2.) she’s a science geek. Joy’s unhappy expectations are overturned when a cute boy stops by her new house to welcome the family to the neighborhood, and some of the popular girls adopt her into their group. Joy’s first weeks at Worthington High are nothing short of blissful as she flirts with her new crush and hangs out with her new friends. Excitement runs high as the biggest event of the new school year approaches - the yearly pool party at James’ house on the last warm day of fall. One of Joy’s new friends, the puzzling and brooding Laura, offers portentous words as the girls walk to the pool party - Joy will have to choose between James, her crush, and Jonah, her friend and lab partner. “You will have to choose,” she says. “You can only have one. Tonight you choose, and you will lose the other.” Joy is unnerved - both by Laura’s words and her own insecurities. She’s out of her element, a nerdy young woman surrounded by her “cool” and “popular” and beautiful classmates. They’re all showing off their tanned and toned bodies, while Joy stands uncomfortably in her one-piece bathing suite. She soon relaxes and finds herself enjoying the company of both the boys - until her worst fears come true. Laughter. Jeering. Humiliation. These were the things Joy feared most. These were the things she had expected at her new school, but she had not yet experienced. Joy notices signs of jealousy for her attentions. Then she, James, and Jonah are tackled by a muddy dog and showered with hor devours before falling into the swimming pool. When she surfaces, everyone is laughing, pointing. She leaves in tears, embarrassed and with a deep feeling of loss. She believes that neither of the boys will want her after the entire school laughed at her. Joy takes solace in a family vacation during the break from school that follows - she has several days before she has to face any of her classmates again. Soon, though, reality is turned on its head. Unusual things begin to happen that make Joy feel as if she’s living in a cartoon. First, she’s almost eaten by a giant, orange anime-style fish while fishing with her father. Then, men who fit the archetype of “spies” - dark glasses and tuxedos - begin chasing them. An encounter with Laura, a Wizard of Oz style “horse of a different color,” an eerie glow, and an unusual carnival follow. When Joy can outrun these nonsensical occurrences no more, she is overtaken by the “spies,” wielding guns that shoot green goo, putting kids in a compliant, zombie-like state. Then, the most surprising thing of all occurs. James, who had been her crush until her humiliation at his pool party, arrives on a hovercraft to rescue her. He tells her that a kiss will break the spell of the goo. Assuming she’s dreaming, she complies. Later, at a secret scientific installation, Joy learns that unusual things such as she’s witnessed have been recently recorded and studied. Her father, unbeknownst to his family, was involved in the work - and he has been abducted. James and Joy are called upon to conduct an investigation. They, along with Jonah, Laura, Brooke, and Joanie, soon find themselves transported via wormhole to another world. This world has been built so as to resemble a child’s fantasy - or to replace a lost childhood. Appearances that were aberrant and strange on earth are common there - unnatural horses and other creatures, castles, androids dressed as “spies,” and candy that doubles as a mind control agent. Laura seems to be deeply involved, either as a victim or a mastermind. Who is Laura? Will Joy find her father amid this jumbled reality? Can she win back the hearts of James or Jonah? Will they ever get back home?