The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

by:  Maggie Hall
published by:  Putnam Juvenile
publish date:  January 15, 2015

Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead.

To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle—beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family--but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with.

First of all, I love this cover.   Props to the designer that came up with this one.  Secondly, I liked this book, but I was disappointed that it was once again part of a series/trilogy.  Can we please get some stand alone YA books??

Avery isn't a typical teenager, her mother is employed by a government agency that she doesn't know much about but her job is dictated by "the mandate".  They move frequently so Avery is never settled in one area before they have to move again.  So, when a handsome boy shows up to show her who her real family is, she jumps at the chance to go.  She finds out they're part of a secret society that rules the world.   They've been looking for her because they think she will fulfill an ancient prophecy that will give one part of the secret society more power than the rest.  

This book is filled with all kinds of YA goodness.  Teenagers with endless money and no supervision.  There's a love triangle of course.  There are big shadowy conspiracies.  And bad guys of course, there are always bad guys chasing them.

Overall, I liked the story.  It was a fun Dan Brown kind of YA adventure novel.  I'm still a little aggravated by the cliffhanger.  I would recommend this book to the YA readers, I think most will like it.