(3) YA Sharks that live to be over four hundred years old? Ten-thousand-year-old plants? Jellyfish that may be immortal? As scientists study these long-living organisms, particularly their DNA, they can learn more about human aging. Plenty of sidebars and photos, as well as the engagingly written text on an interesting topic, make this a good nonfiction choice for reluctant readers. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) YA Things didn't end well (in Blood and Salt) between Ash and her blood-bonded love, Dane. But when he returns with an ambitious plan that involves finding her missing twin brother, Ash agrees to help. In spite of some flat secondary characters, this atmospheric tale's exploration of alchemy, fate, and the Gothic mystery at its center should enthrall fans of tortured romances.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) YA Zera is an immortal, unwilling, and irreverent servant to the witch Nightsinger, who keeps Zera's heart in a jar. Offered the opportunity to win her freedom in exchange for stealing (literally) the heart of Prince Lucien, Zera discovers there's more to Lucien--and the political factions of the kingdom--than she realized. This wittily narrated fantasy, first in a series, ends with a cliffhanger.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Famous fairy tales, including "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Rumpelstiltskin," take unexpected turns when the charming immortal witch Kendra recounts her version of how events really unfolded. Flinn's novel is episodic, and the frame story about Kendra's own centuries-spanning search for a lost love never gathers much steam. Nevertheless, fans of fairy tales with strong heroines will appreciate these revisions of familiar plots.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Five mismatched teens are chosen for a mysterious summer program exploring an underground French palace; upon arrival, they are trapped and hunted. Their story alternates with that of wealthy sisters who disappeared there centuries ago. Character development is forced, but the high-concept cat-and-mouse games are inventive and gripping, and the twisted quest for immortality as plot engine will please classic-horror fans.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) YA Seventeen-year-old Emma and her boyfriend's families drank an anti-polio vaccine that rendered them immortal; pursued by religious fanatics, the teens separate. In an alternating narrative in the present day, Emma has been searching for Charlie for nearly a century and girls with a striking resemblance to Emma are being murdered. Tuck Everlasting meets the thriller genre in this satisfying era-hopping novel.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Josh Holinaty. An unconventional and engaging account of the many ways humans have sought immortality throughout world history. Short, well-chosen, entertaining snippets describe the methods of historical, mythical, folkloric, and literary figures who have tried to accomplish this mission impossible, as well as the real scientific and technological research happening today. The narratives are accompanied by fanciful monochromatic illustrations that capture their spirit. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA All her life, Ash has seen a dead girl hanging from the ceiling and heard her mother's stories of a centuries-old community in Kansas called Quivira. Ash's brother Rhys thinks it's all hogwash, but when their mother disappears, they travel to Quivira, where Ash discovers the frightening truth behind the legends. The fanciful, entertaining story combines myth, romance, and mortal danger.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams