Title: “I Must Betray You” 
Author: Ruta Sepetys

Written from the viewpoint of a high school student in Communist Romania 1989, this historical fiction is based on the true story of Romania’s Revolution. Cristian Florescu attends MF3 High School in Bucharest with his friends Luca and Liliana.  He lives in a tiny one-bedroom apartment with his parents, sister and his sick grandfather. They must talk in whispers because there are informers everywhere.  Like any teenager, Cristian has dreams of what he will do when he is out of school.  But dreams, as well as any personal opinions, are better kept to yourself in Romania.  Life holds little excitement or joy when you never know if you will be allowed to have electricity that day or when you have to stand in line for hours just for one rotting potato. One day, Cristian is pulled aside and told he will now be an informer if he wants medicine for his ailing grandfather.  Cristian knows he has no choice but to become what they all hate.  But as he forms a friendship with the son of an American diplomat, Cristian learns that if he wants change in his country, he must risk everything to start a revolution. 

Title: “Vampire Academy” 
Author: Richelle Mead

At night, the secret world of the Moroi, Strigoi and Dhampirs is revealed. To the human world, they would be known as vampires and half-vampires. At St. Vladamir’s Academy, Lissa Dragomir and her best friend Rose Hathaway are inseparable. Especially since Lissa and Rose survived the car accident that killed all of Lissa’s family. The car accident was only the start of assassination attempts on Lissa. In order to protect Lissa, Rose took her away from their school to live among humans. That protection only lasted a short period of time. Now, they are back at the school and must try to survive the school year. But what will happen when the vampires are determined to kill Lissa? 

This young adult supernatural romance is perfect for readers who love vampires and political thriller plots. You can find this book at the library and on the Libby app.