Catherine, by April Lindner

Catherine, by April Lindner, 320 pages

In this modern re-telling of Wuthering Heights, Chelsea is trying to track down her missing mother, Catherine, whose only clue is a broody ex-rock star named Hence. She gets an education she never expected about her mother, love, and New York City.

The main difference from the original Wuthering Heights is that of the narrator being Catherine's daughter, and it's not a bad addition.  The story still has the love, the excitement, and the element of the supernatural; and Heathcliff's character is still a relate-able jerk. I think teens will enjoy this.

Jane, by April Lindner

Jane, by April Lindner, 373 pages

Jane Eyre has always had a hold on me. It's ripe with so much to discuss- is Mr Rochester a smoldering hero, or is he a creepy guy who kept his wife in his attic and there's nothing he can say that will make that acceptable? I tend to go with the latter, but I still love the book. This modern re-make of Jane Eyre was surprisingly well-done.  Jane is a young college student who has to drop out after the death of her parents and find a job wherever she can.  Which brings her to the position of nanny for one of the biggest rock stars in the world, Mr Rathburn.  See where she's going with this?  I found the characters surprisingly likable- Mr Rathburn is even more sympathetic than the original Mr Rochester- and I think this could be really appealing to fans of the original and young adults being introduced for the first time.