Born Confused by Tanuia Desai Hidier

Dimple Lala just wants to be a normal American teen, but her traditional Indian family keeps putting a glitch into her ideal. Dimple wants desperately to be like her best friend, Gwyn, who is blonde and thin- very much Dimple's idea of the American girl. Gwyn, however, is trying to find her own identity and loves the traditional culture and look of Dimple's family. Just when Dimple is beginning to succeed at pulling away from her family's traditions, being Indian becomes cool. Gwyn suddenly wants to borrow Dimple's traditional clothing and accessories, and Dimple's parents find a "suitable boy" for her to meet. Dimple loves her family, and does not want to hurt them, so she puts up with meeting the suitable boy, Karsh. Karsh comes to meet Dimple and her family with his family. He does not meet Dimple's expectation for the American boy she want to be with someday. Karsh is very Indian, down to his appropriate clothes. Dimple dismisses him as a nerdy guy she would not be interested in. She soon changes her mind when she finds out that Karsh, like Dimple, has another side to him. Karsh turns out to be one of the hottest Indian DJ's in New York City. This artistic side appeals to Dimple as she herself is an artist. Dimple wants to be a photographer. She finds that she likes Karsh after all. However, Dimple has already told her friend, Gwyn, that she would have nothing to do with Karsh, and Gwyn thinks Karsh is up for grabs. What should Dimple do? Tell Gwyn that, sorry, she wants to go after Karsh after all? or let Gwyn pursue Karsh? Making matters more complicated, Gwyn and Karsh seem to be hitting it off. Suddenly, Gwyn is acting like the good Indian girl that Dimple's parents wish she would be. Dimple always wanted to just be American, but maybe it's not so bad to mix the two cultures after all. Dimple is conflicted about betraying her true self, but first she needs to figure out what her true self is. Is she purely American, Indian, or a mixture of the two?

I loved this book and was almost sad to finish it. Although she is confused about herself, Dimple stable character contrasts greatly with Gwyn's self destructiveness. The story has a great lesson in discovering that people are not always as they seem and that a person does not have to claim one single identity to "fit in" or please others. Nothing is simple in this story, and, in the end, the characters learn that is okay. The author's writing will pull you into Dimple's life, and you will find yourself rooting for her in whatever she wants to do. Hidier is very good at portraying the angst and desires that go along with being a teen.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780439510110; New York: Scholastic Press, 2003

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Miles has never been popular- actually, he doesn't even have friends at his public high school. This makes it easy for him to decide to go to Culver Creek Boarding School. There, Miles hopes to begin anew and find some of the adventure that eluded him back home. His parents are not too sure about sending him off to boarding school but end up agreeing to let Miles go. At his new school, Miles soon makes friends with his new roommate, Chip (aka the Colonel), and Alaska, a beautiful (Miles calls her hot) enigma of a girl, and others. The small group of friends bond over smoking, drinking, and playing pranks on the Weekday Warriors, rich kids who go home to their wealthy families on the weekends.

Miles, who gets nicknamed Pudge because he's skinny, finds himself falling for Alaska, who has a boyfriend. The problem, besides the fact that she has a boyfriend, is that Alaska is pretty messed up. She happy one minute, upset and yelling the next. Miles cannot figure her out. Alaska just wants to be buddies, but Miles keeps looking too much into her behavior to see if she might like him back. When tragedy strikes, Miles and his friends must learn to come to terms with the shocking loss and figure out what they mean to each other or risk losing each other as friends. Major themes in the story are love, friendship, loss, and forgiveness.

This book is a quick read, but because it does take a very serious turn, I do not recommend it for a light summer vacation book- unless you are tired of summery books and are ready for something more substantial. The story does not quite make it to a romance, but the elements are there. Friendship is the more important theme here. It is well written, and the author knows how to keep his reader hooked. You will find yourself reading "just one more chapter" a couple of times before turning your lights out at night. I recommend this book for both guys and girls.

Book; 14+; ISBN 9780142412213; New York: Speak (from Penguin Group), 2005

Beastly by Alex Flinn

What if the tale of Beauty and the Beast happened in todays world? How would people react to the Beast? Would Beast be more or less likely to get his Beauty? That is the story Flinn tells in Beastly. Kyle Kingsbury, one of the most popular guys at his exclusive private school, plays a mean prank on a not-so-popular girl in his class. The prank backfires as she is a witch- a real witch that is- and turns Kyle into the Beast. Kyle soon learns what the people he used to ridicule went through, and then some. The few people who see Kyle are terrified, and Kyle's own father, a famous news anchorman on TV, is so embarassed about his son that he sends Kyle away to live by himself in the family's vacation home. The once popular Kyle suddenly finds himself to be an outcast.

The witch gives Kyle two years to find someone who will look past his beastliness and fall in love with him. The story becomes a little predictable here. Kyle blackmails a girl from his school to be his prisoner in his home. But how can he not only get her to look past his ugliness but to also get her past the fact that he is holding her captive? Of course, Kyle finds himself falling for the girl. Kyle never becomes the scary and mean beast like in the Disney version, which might make it easier for him to get the girl.

Of course we know the ending throughout the story, but Flinn still manages to keep her readers on their toes. Maybe she won't stick to the usual story after all! In spite of the fact that this is a well known story, this retelling is perfect for young adults and adults who are tired of the children's version. It is also fun to read the story in a modern setting. Kyle is not so isolated as he has Internet access and is in an online support group for people who are going through changing from one thing to another (one is a mermaid who wishes to become human- gee, I wonder who that could be?). It's a quick read and lots of fun. I recommend this for guys and girls (it's told from Kyle's point of view).

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780060874186; New York: Harper Teen, 2007

Trigger by Susan Vaught

How would it be to wake up in a hospital with brain damage and no memory of how you got there? Would you be able to believe it if you were told you shot yourself in the head in an attempt to commit suicide? That is the world Jersey lives in. He has spent almost a year in the hospital and rehabilitation center recovering and learning how to live with his brain injury and a battered body as a result of the injury. Now, Jersey is going home and will also have to learn how to live with family and friends who don't quite know how to react and deal with his suicide attempt. Jersey will also begin to explore the reason why he tried to kill himself. He was once athletic and popular, but now Jersey can barely get his body to do want his brain tries to tell it to do and his friends are mostly angry at him. He finds that people tend to either be too sympathetic to his ordeal or overly angry. His memories come back to him in quick flashbacks that he must try to put together into one cohesive memory. He has trouble speaking, and sometimes has trouble not speaking as he tends to spout of whatever is on his mind thanks to the brain injury.

The story is about Jersey's attempt to find himself, even when some do not want to tell him the whole story he needs in order to do so. While the reading level is not very difficult, the story can be difficult at times because of the serious subject matter. At times it can be hard to follow as the story is told in Jersey's voice, as it is with his brain injury. That can sometimes make it difficult to stay with the story. However, the book is worthwhile and will leave you with plenty to think about. You might want to share it with family and friends so you can discuss it.

Book; 14+; ISBN 9781582349206; New York : Bloomsbury, 2006

Rumors ( A Luxe Novel) by Anna Godbersen

High society New York, socialites on the verge of getting everything they want, and all those delicious, frothy dresses and society events- what's more to love in historical chick lit? Rumors, the sequel to The Luxe, delivers all of this and more. If you have not read The Luxe, you should stop reading this review now as it will spoil what happens in the first book of the series.

Elizabeth Holland has pulled off the trick of the year by faking her death and running off to be with her love, Will, in California. Only her sister, Diana, and her best friend and rival, Penelope, know Elizabeth's secret. Well, at least until Diana spills the beans to her maid who in turn tells her sister, Lina, who is in love with Will too. Penelope on the other hand, is happy to have Elizabeth out of the picture as this puts her in a prime position to get her hands on Elizabeth's former fiancee, Henry Schoonmaker, who Penelope sees as her ticket into the old money society her newly wealthy family has been having trouble breaking into. But there's a little problem there too, for Diana and Henry are secretly in love and are just waiting for the proper amount of time of mourning to go by after the supposed death of Elizabeth. Got it all?

This topsy-turvy novel is not so hard to follow as it may seem, and Godbersen will keep you glued to the end. The story is a juicy, guilty read with just enough historical fact to make you feel not too guilty. If you liked The Luxe, you will enjoy this story too as it follows the same format. But, don't expect a neatly wrapped up ending here as there is more of the series to come.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780061345692; New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 2008

The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong

Losing your mother and home then becoming lost at sea and stranded on a desert island may be a bit much for any teen, or any adult even, to handle. That is the situation in which Ben and his two brothers, Gerry and Dylan, find themselves. When their mother dies in a car accident, the boys and their father are unable to bear their grief. Ben's father goes off the deep end and sells their home so they can sail for a year around the Bahamas. Ben is not happy with his father's decision, and this creates a rocky relationship between them. Being stuck on a small sailboat with three others who are not getting along can make for a very long year at sea. It turns out they do not get stuck together for a year on the boat. Instead, the Ben's father disappears off of the boat and is lost at sea, leaving Ben to take care of his brothers and the boat. Then a storm shipwrecks the boys on a desert island. Ben finds himself in the role of father to his brothers. Each brother has his own troubles surviving on the island between accidents and just plain going insane.

The book is a fast read, mainly because it is a page turner. You will be dying to find out if the boys make it off of the island alive. Some parts are predictable, and I became a little tired of the constant reminders of the family's grief over the loss of their mother (yeah, kind of cold- I know). However, the book is definitely worthwhile. I recommend for a pleasurable summer read for guys and girls.

Book; 12+; ISBN 9780670063307; New York : Viking Childrens Books, 2008

Peak by Roland Smith

Have you ever dreamed of being the first to do something? Or to just plain do something that very few people get to do? Peak Marcello finds himself in just that position. Born to famous, rock climbing parents, Peak has inherited their love of rock climbing. However, he and his mother have moved from Wyoming to New York City to live with his step-father, and New York City is not exactly a rock climber's paradise. Peak turns to climbing sky scrapers instead, and, to add some excitement, he leaves secret tags on his conquests. Climbing sky scrapers is illegal, and one day he is caught and thrown in juvenile hall with the possibility of spending years in jail. Lucky for Peak, his long absent father steps in and strikes a deal with the judge: Peak will leave the United States, and the media blitz his actions have caused, to join his father in Thailand. However, when Peak lands in Thailand, he finds that his father has other plans for him. Peak will become the youngest person to ever reach the peak of Mount Everest. Peak jumps at the chance, but soon learns that his father has his own motivations for getting Peak to the top. Furthermore, one of Peak's father's guides has his own plan for getting another young man to the top. Climbing Mount Everest takes a great amount of ambition, and some are more ambitious than others. The preparation for ascending Mt. Everest can be more difficult than the actual push to the top. There are so many obstacles in Peak's way. Will he make it? Will he even survive the treacherous climb in a place that even stepping out of your tent to go to the bathroom can mean your death?

Peak is a page turner with just the right amount of suspense and danger. You don't need to know anything about mountain climbing as Smith describes everything you need to know without going into too much detail. I recommend this book for everybody, not just adventure junkies and/or guys. It is a quick read that will keep you guessing until the end.

Book; 12+; ISBN 9780152024178; Orlando, FL : Harcourt Children's Books, 2007

Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks

Today, we know the plague was carried by fleas hitching rides on rats. Back in the day, nobody knew what caused the plague, a highly contagious disease that could wipe out entire towns. When townspeople showed signs of the plague, some would freak out and run to another town, not knowing they carried the plague with them to infect even more people. This is the climate in which Anna Frith, an 18 year old widow with two kids, lived in from 1865 – 1866. When her town’s people come down with the plague, some want to run away, but the town vicar, who Anna works for as a maid, convinces most of the townspeople to stay. The town locks down into a year of forced isolation. Nobody can leave, and nobody is allowed in. Of course, as the plague spreads, some still run off—some to join a group of flagellants, people who believed that the plague was sent by God to make people atone for their sins and that if they whipped themselves into enough pain, God would forgive them. As the year of isolation goes on, the townspeople suffer greatly and begin to look to each other for someone to blame. Is there a witch in their presence? Or did someone bring God’s wrath down upon everyone for his own sin? Anna, the vicar, and his wife are only a few of the townspeople who manage to cling to their humanity. Will they survive the year? Will the plague go away?

This book is based on an account of a true town that shut itself off from the world. Brooks does a great job of making even the mundane events of daily life readable and interesting, and the book is littered with one shocking event after another. Brooks keeps her readers emotionally involved, and you will be almost afraid to turn the page to see who else has died of the plague or violated the town's agreement to quaranting themselves.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780142001431; New York: Penguin Books, 2002

Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Wouldn't it be nice to have a friend who you know will always be there for you? Someone you know you can count on throughout your life? Told from the point of view of 80 year old Lily, this is the story of two “old sames,” Lily and Snow Flower. The two girls’ families match them in an arrangement meant to create lifelong friends and provide an opportunity for Lily, whose family is not as high of status as Snow Flower’s family. The girls become fast friends and correspond with each other throughout their lives through secret letters written in the folds of a fan. They write in a secret form, called nu shu—created by women over a thousand years before—to protect their conversation from the male dominated society in which they live. As Lily describes her life, we learn about what it was like to be a woman in 19th century China, specifically in the Hunan province. We suffer with her through foot binding, an experience that can be difficult for some to read. We follow Lily and Snow Flower from young girls to old women, through marriages and children, and hardships. When Lily marries higher than Snow Flower, their friendship takes a hit, but they survive through that and more.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and a great way to learn about old Chinese traditions (you will cringe as Lily goes through foot binding- a barbaric practice in which the bones of the feet are broken then the feet are wrapped tightly to force them to stay small forever). There are enought twists to keep you interested. The story was written so beautifully that I found myself looking to see if it was based on a traditional story or legend- nope, the author is just a great storyteller!

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780812968064; New York: Random House, 2006

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

In 1959, missionary Nathan Price takes his wife and four daughters to the Belgian Congo on the African continent. The story is told in turns by Orleana Price and her four daughters, Rachel, the oldest at 16, twins Leah and Ada, and Ruth May, the youngest at five years old. It is the tale of a family falling apart and a nation struggling for independence. The Price family has chosen what may have been the worst time to try to convert the people of the Congo who are suspicious of all whites as they are fighting for their independence from Belgium. Nathan Price either doesn’t get that he is putting his family in danger or just doesn’t care. For example, he is determined to baptize the people of his chosen village in the river even though it goes against their traditions and sense of safety—there are crocodiles and poisonous snakes in the river. The village is suspicious and fearful of Nathan Price, but begins to accept the daughters as children who need protection. Leah in particular begins to fit into village life as she learns the village ways and traditions. However, even she is considered unconventional as she insists on learning to hunt, a man’s task. Rachel just dreams of going back home to school dances, rock and roll, and in-style clothing. Ada lives in her own world of backwards writing and palindromes while she observes the affects of the experiences on those around her. Ruth May is the first to make friends with the village children and becomes a leader in their games. The first half of the book covers the family’s life in the village and their attempts to fit in. The second half of the book follows each family member after their escape to various locations when Congolese rebels revolt against the Belgian government. Orleana and Ada make it back to the U.S., Leah stays in the Congo, which becomes Zaire, and Rachel runs to South Africa.

Warning: This book is a page turner that is very difficult to put down! Each daughter's tale is a story in its own, and you will have trouble deciding whose story you like the most. The book looks long, but the tale flows so well that you will finish before you are ready. The author is very good at describing the Congo environment and making her readers feel as if they are there. The story takes place during real events but never gets preachy. You will find yourself looking up the history to learn more for yourself and to see if the U.S. really was as involved as described in the book. Found in the adult section.

Book; ISBN 978-0060786502; Thorndike: G.K. Hall, 1999

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

What would you do if you contracted leprosy? Would your friends and family still love you or would they be ashamed to know or be related to you? This is what Rachel Kalani has to deal with when she contracts the disease. Rachel is 5 years old in Honolulu, Hawaii when her mother first sees the tell tale sign of leprosy (today known as Hansen’s Disease). Her mother, knowing what will happen to Rachel and her family if anyone finds out, tries to hide the sore that won’t heal and succeeds for a over a year. Unfortunately, Rachel’s condition is outed at school, and the health inspector finds out. This rest is the story of Rachel’s life at the Kalaupapa leper colony on remote Moloka’I island. She is sent there at 7 years of age and raised in dorms with a group of children who also have leprosy. Rachel and the others in the colony live their lives in isolation, forbidden from ever seeing family and friends again in case they might spread the disease. Any infants born at Kalaupapa are taken away from their parents and given up for adoption so they won’t contract the disease too. Many characters in the story are based on real people, including Father Damien, who devoted his life to caring for and treating lepers until he himself contracted leprosy and died. The story follows Rachel’s and her friends and family’s lives for about 80 years. The story unravels as Rachel’s granddaughter tries to uncover her family’s mysterious ties to the island only to find out her own grandmother had been a patient and resident.

This is a beautiful book about the ways people make the best of their situation and manage to live their lives in spite of the conditions while their families back home try to pick up the pieces and move on. It is a tearjerker whose story will stay with you for a long time. It is not a difficult read although sometimes it is not clear for a few sentences when the author has switched between the story of Rachel and the story of her granddaughter. Found in the adult section.

Book; 14+; ISBN 9781429943239; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2003

Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig

Would you be willing to move to a country you have never seen to live on your own- without your parents? 19 year old best friends, Angus McCaskill and Rob Barclay, move from Scotland to the U.S. to become homesteaders in Montana. It is the turn of the century (the 20th century that is), and the novel follows the two young men as they go through their initial experiences as sheep ranchers, marry, have kids, and ends during WWI. The story is told from Angus’ viewpoint. To make ends meet when sheep ranching won’t, he takes a job as a school teacher. He falls in love with another teacher, Anna. When their relationship doesn’t work out, Angus, desperate to get over her, marries Rob’s little sister, Adair. When Rob realizes that Angus is still in love with Anna, not his little sister, the men’s friendship will be tried.

This is a great book for those interested in the Old West and immigration stories. It has just enough romance, but the focus is on Angus’ and Rob’s overall experiences as they grow from greenhorns to experienced homesteaders. The story is truly a piece of art and something you will want to read again and again. This is actually the prequel to Ivan Doig’s English Creek so if you must read books in the order they came out, you might want to start there first. This book is a true hidden gem, and one you will want read again. Found in the adult section.

Book; 14+; ISBN 9780684831053; Boston: G.K. Hall, 1987

Troy by Adele Geras

This story retells the Iliad through the eyes of teen servants to Hector, the ruler of Troy. While the Trojan war wages on, Xanthe and her sister, Marpessa are caught up in romantic triangles (yes there is more than one triangle) partially created by the goddess, Aphrodite. Xanthe falls in love with the soldier, Alastar, when he is brought in with injuries from the war and she nurses him. However, bored Aphrodite decides to have some fun and makes Alastar and Marpessa fall in love with each other. Then, there is the stableboy, Iason, who is in love with Xanthe—not that she notices. Starting to feel a little like Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream? There are appearances by other gods and goddesses and plenty of war, including the infamous Trojan horse.

This is a fun summer read for guys and girls. The romantic plot is predictable, but the new setting makes for an interesting story. There are some inconsistencies in the story, but if you are not looking for them, you probably won't notice. In spite of it's flaws, it is still a good read and may be a good pick for a book report or just to supplement your learning of the Trojan War.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-0152045708; San Diego: Harcourt, 2002

Ophelia by Lisa Klein

You may know the character Ophelia from Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. However, you do not need to have read or know the story of Hamlet to enjoy Ophelia. Ophelia lost her mother at a young age and lives with her father and older brother. When Ophelia’s father goes to work for King Hamlet, the family, Ophelia, her father, and her older brother, move to Elsinore Castle. Ophelia has been allowed to sit in on her brother’s tutoring sessions and, thus, has more education than most girls in the 16th century. Eventually, this attracts the queen’s attention, and Ophelia becomes one of her ladies in waiting. This puts Ophelia into closer contact with Prince Hamlet. The two fall in love and begin a forbidden affair—Ophelia is too far beneath Prince Hamlet’s status to be considered an appropriate match for him. The two lovers decide to elope, but the murder of Prince Hamlet’s father gets in the way. Prince Hamlet is consumed with the desire to avenge his father, and Ophelia is forgotten. However, Ophelia knows too much about the suspected murderer, and, despite her hope of regaining Prince Hamlet’s attentions, decides she must run away from Elsinore to save her life.

This is a fun read. Whether you are familiar with the Shakespeare play or not, you will enjoy it. It does get a little slow in parts, but mostly kept my attention through to the end. The author diverges a little from Shakespeare's story, mainly to give Ophelia life beyond when she has died in the play, and this will keep those familiar with the story on their toes. The purpose of the book is to give Ophelia more of a voice than she had in Hamlet.

Book; 12+; ISBN 9781582348018; New York: Bloomsbury, 2006

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

What do you do when you've made a promise to someone, but you could possibly find that person's killer by breaking that promise? In 1906, sixteen year old Mattie Gokey has big plans for her future but lots of obstacles in her way. Mattie is a writer who wants to go to college—provided she can pass her high school exit exams and find out how to pay her way to New York City. Oh, and she will be leaving behind her sisters and father who have come to rely on her after the death of her mother. Then there is the cute guy on the neighboring farm who is catching her eye. Will Mattie make it to college or stay in her rural town to take care of her family and marry the hottie? However, that is not the entire story. Mattie takes a job at a nearby hotel where a female guest gives her several letters with instructions to burn them before anybody can see them. The next day, the guest is found drowned in the lake, and her male companion is also presumed dead. Mattie is torn between reading the letters and fulfilling the guest’s last wish to burn them.

The story is set around an actual murder case and mixes romance, history, and mystery. This book is a page turner! It is not a light read, but I still recommend it for summer and travel. There are tons of copies available in the bookstores, which makes me thing that many others are enjoying this book as much as I did.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780152053109; San Diego: Harcourt, 2003

The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

20 year old Ruth Berger is left behind to brave the Nazis when her plans to escape Vienna and meet up with her Jewish family and fiancée go wrong. Luckily for her, an old family friend, a professor at the college where her father taught, comes to her aid. They come up with the idea to wed, move to Great Britain to get her out of Nazi territory then have their marriage annulled so she can then go to her family and fiancée. However, this story is a romance so things cannot be as simple as that! Of course, Ruth and her rescuer (I don’t want to give his identity away) become attracted to each other. They also have trouble getting their marriage annulled. Complicating matters is that Ruth becomes his student when she enrolls in college in England. There are plenty of obstacles in Ruth's path, and it is never quite clear until the end just who Ruth will end up spending her life with- or even what she wants.

This book has a slow start (it begins when Ruth is a little girl and goes into her family’s background), but it is well worth sticking with. You’ll be into it by the third chapter, I promise! The story never gets too dark in spite of the serious time in which it is set. Ibbotson is excellent at getting her readers emotionally involved into her stories and you will find yourself rooting for the protagonists and wanting to boo at the antagonist, a very annoying student at Ruth's college. This book is both light enough to be a summer read and meaty enough to satisfy readers looking for something to bite into and think about.

Book; 14+; ISBN 978-0142409114; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1993

The Minister's Daughter by Julie Hearn

Witch trials and unwed mothers in the same book?! In 1645, Nell’s grandmother is ailing and Nell must quickly learn to take over as her town’s healer. However, in this time of Puritanism and witch hunts, it is a dangerous profession for women to be midwives and healers. When the minister’s eldest, and unmarried, daughter, Grace, becomes pregnant, she goes to Nell to terminate the pregnancy. Nell refuses to terminate the baby because the baby was conceived on May 1st—under pagan tradition, babies conceived on May Day are sacred children called “merrybegots.” Unable to admit her failing to her father and the town and wanting to get rid of the person who knows her secret, Grace, with the help of her sister, Patience, contrives to blame her condition on Nell and her grandmother. In this time when the Puritan church was fighting against old, pagan beliefs, it was not difficult to get the town riled up about the “witches” in their midst.

While piskies (pixies) and fairies have some minor roles in this story, the story is more historical fiction than fantasy. Set before the Salem witch trials of 1692, this story gets into the psychological background of the witch hysteria that took over New England in the late 17th century. While not a big page turner, the story will still hold your interest to the end.

Book; 13+; ISBN 978-0689876912; New York: Atheneum books for young readers, 2005

Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

Whether you like graphic novels or never considered reading one, this book is a must! Maus tells the true story of Art Spiegelman’s parents’ survival of Hitler’s persecution of European Jews. Spiegelman tells not only the tale of his parent’s survival but of Art’s own coming to terms with his family history. In this Holocaust tale, the characters are depicted as animals: Jews are mice, Germans are cats, French are frogs, Americans are dogs, and Poles are pigs. Art’s father, Vladek enlists in the Polish Army when war breaks out. However, he is Jewish, and when Germany conquers Poland, he and his wife, Anna, are forced to move into a Jewish ghetto. When they learn what will happen to them if they are sent to a Nazi concentration camp, they go into hiding.

This novel does not have a happy ending… yet. It is the first of two graphic novels chronicling Art’s family as they struggle to survive the Holocaust. This graphic novel is sometimes considered an adult novel and sometimes a young adult. The story is harrowing and disturbing, even more so because it is told in pictures. Because everything is illustrated, it does not let your imagination soften the experiences of the Jews during the Nazi regime and the Final Solution. It is very "in your face."

Graphic Novel; ISBN 978-0394747231; New York: Pantheon Books, 1986

The Luxe by Anna Godberson

Like TV shows like Gossip Girl, 90210, and the OC? Then this book is for you. Full of fancy dresses, secrets, and wealthy teens who seem to have not much better to do than one-up each other, The Luxe is as its title suggests. However, not is all as it seems. It’s 1899 in New York and socialite Elizabeth Holland has fallen in love with her family’s stable boy. Unfortunately, their difference in social status is not the only obstacle in the way of their love. The Hollands, who are “old money,” have lost their wealth, and Elizabeth must marry wealthy playboy, Henry Schoonmaker, before anyone finds out and her family is ruined. The plotting begins when Elizabeth’s best friend, and greatest rival, Penelope Hayes, finds out about the engagement. Penelope has already set her sights on Henry Schoonmaker and has been having a secret affair with him. She wants to marry Henry so he can give her “new money” family some credibility in the upper class social circles into which they are trying to break. There are some interesting twists to this story, one coming right at the beginning: the story opens at Elizabeth’s funeral, during which not everybody seems all so sad, including Elizabeth’s sister, Diana. What happened to Elizabeth? You’ll have to read this fun, guilty pleasure of a book to find out!

This story is a fast read- great for a travel or summer book when you don't want to have to think too hard! This is definitely fluffy, chick lit with lots of descriptions of clothes, friends betraying friends, and forbidden romances. It is the first in a series, the entirety of which has great reviews. I'll definitely be picking up the next guilty pleasure in the series soon!

Book; ISBN 0061345660; New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2007

Leonardo’s Shadow, or, My Astonishing Life as Leanardo da Vinci’s Servant by Christopher Grey

Giacomo has no idea who he is, including his real name. His last memory is of running from a mob who thought he was a thief. As he falls off a rooftop in trying to escape his pursuers, he is rescued by Leonardo da Vinci, the great Italian painter and inventor. This is a story of Giacomo’s quest to discover who he really is and of da Vinci’s creation of his masterpiece, The Last Supper. Da Vinci is horribly in debt and must finish The Last Supper before the Duke of Milan gives up on him and hires Michelangelo to finish the painting. He is already two years behind in working on the painting. Giacomo has a plan to help da Vinci get the painting finished and please the Duke of Milan before he becomes penniless. In the meantime, Giacomo is sure that da Vinci know the secret of his past, but why won’t da Vinci tell him? Furthermore, da Vinci refuses to give Giacomo painting lessons even though he works with pampered and spoiled young nobles to teach them an art they will never truly appreciate. Giacomo is determined to have his questions answered and to gain da Vinci’s trust.

The book is a great story that gives insight into da Vinci’s life and 15th century Milan. Giacomo tells the story as if you are living each step with him. If this were a movie, he would be speaking to the camera much of the time. The book is an easy read, but older teens will be able to enjoy it as much as younger teens. It's a must read for those who like to read historical fiction in order to learn more about certain time periods and historical figures. If you plan to travel to Italy someday, you may enjoy it for the location as well.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-1416905448; New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

This untypical Victorian tale is a great mix of fantasy and mystery. After the death of her mother, Gemma Doyle moves from India to England to live nearer to her remaining family and to go to the exclusive Spence Academy, a boarding school. But don’t dismiss this book as yet another private school clique story; Gemma Doyle has visions—she even foresaw her mother’s death. Furthermore, a mysterious young man has followed Gemma from India. Is he there to protect or harm her? Or, is he there to keep her from learning the mystery of her mother’s death? At Spence, Gemma encounters the usual group of mean girls—the beautiful girls everyone wants to hang with at Spence. When Gemma protects her roommate from the girls, she gains their attention and is invited to join their “private club.” In spite of their initial animosity and general suspicion of each other, the rivals form a tight group centered around a diary that Gemma had found at Spence after following one of her visions. The diary was written by Gemma’s mother and tells of two former Spence students and a secret order that found their way into an otherworld called the Realms. Gemma and her friends use the diary to find their own way into the Realms unaware of the dangers that wait for them there. For the girls, who live during the strict confines of Victorian London, the Realms offer a freedom they know they will never have after they marry. Each girl finds her own fantasy in the Realms not knowing that a dark danger lurks and would follow them back into their world if they were careless enough to let it. In the middle of this story, Gemma searches to solve the mystery of her mother’s death. While the girls merely follow Gemma into the Realms, it is Gemma who has the power to go there. Exactly what are Gemma’s powers? Will Gemma go along with the expectations of her times and become wife to a wealthy man? Or, will she maintain her individuality and independence?

This tale is dark but very enjoyable. It is mildly supernatural and does not quite fit in with the other run-of-the-mill supernatural books out there. The writing is beautiful, and the author never insults her reader's intellegence. This is a good book for teens to adults so don't be surprised if your mother/aunt/oldest sister tries to steal it. The book isn't a total chick lit book, so guys, don't be afraid to pick it up and read it too!

Book; 14+; ISBN 9780385732314; New York: Delacorte Press, 2005

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Meyers

Fighting in battle can seem romantic and brave. The Vietnam war caused many to begin questioning that romanticism of war. Seventeen year old Richie Perry had plans to go to college after graduation in the late 1960s, but those plans fall through. Not knowing what to do, Richie enlists in the Army figuring it is better than ending up on the streets of Harlem. He is quickly sent off to Vietnam after a brief training. He has hopes that his knee injury will get him out of fighting, but, of course, something happens with his paperwork, and he ends up in battle alongside his new buddies, PeeWee and Jenkins. Richie struggles to come to terms with what he was told about war and Vietnam during his basic training and the reality he experiences in Vietnam. He begins to question the validity of the U.S. role in Vietnam. After dealing with commanders who are more concerned with their own promotions and their soldiers’ safety and realizing that African-Americans are purposely being sent on the most dangerous missions, Richie decides to demand some answers from his authorities, despite warnings from his comrades.

This is a coming of age story about a young adult who is trying his best to live to come of age. The story is an eye opener about the realities of war. This is a great book about survival and discover, and a recommended book for anyone who dreams of fighting in battle. Meyers manages to let the story speak for itself without becoming preachy. With you are for or against war, this page turner will have you questioning your own beliefs and perceptions. Fans of other Walter Dean Meyers books will not be disappointed as he continues writing in his usual edgy style here.

Book; 14+; ISBN 978-0545055765; New York: Scholastic Inc, 1988

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Abbotson

Anna, who was a Russian countess until the Russian Revolution forced her aristocratic family to flee to England, decides to find work as a house servant to help support her family and allow her brother to remain in school. To keep her job, Anna must keep her aristocratic upbringing from her employers and also keep her job secret from her own family. Even though Anna is almost penniless, her new co-workers soon figure out that Anna was born into a higher class. However, Anna manages to keep her job by showing her wiliness and determination to work just as hard as everyone else. Complicating matters is the young master of the house, Rupert, the Earl of Westerholme. Rupert has recently returned from the Great War (that’s World War I) with the guilt of his brother’s death. Anna is attracted to Rupert, but he already has a fiancée, the horrible Muriel. To Rupert, Muriel is sweet, perfect future wife. To the house servants and Anna, Muriel is a cruel woman and a horrible snob. Unknown to Rupert, Muriel is into eugenics, a plan to breed people to create a superior race and eliminate undesirable traits. Sound a little like the Nazis? Hitler and his followers tried to implement eugenics in their quest for the perfect, Aryan race.

A Countess Below Stairs is a bit predictable, but still enjoyable. It’s a great read for hard times when you need a lift. There are enough twists to keep a reader interested, and readers of this book usually end up coming back for more Eva Ibbotson books. Whether you are interested in this book as a romance or as historical fiction, you will enjoy it.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-0380613748; Leicester: Ulverscroft, 2007

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson

Even though we all learn that it was John Wilkes Booth who assassinated Abraham Lincoln, few of us learn the supsenseful story of how Booth ran and was ultimately caught by the authorities. When Abraham Lincoln is assassinated on April 15, 1865 the hunt begins for his killer, John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices. This book tells the story of that manhunt. Booth ran for 12 days from Washington D.C. to Virginia. A suspenseful page turner, the novel tells us the story from the viewpoints of those hunting Booth and families of the conspirators involved in the assassination.

Although this book is found in the fiction department, it is based on true events and all characters are actual people. It is a great introduction to the true-crime genre as well as a fun way to learn about history. You might pick this book up to supplement your U.S. history class, but you’ll end up reading it for enjoyment. It is a page turner that will have you wanting to share the story with others, which makes it a great book report book.

Book; 13+; ISBN 978-0439903547; New York: Scholastic Press, 2009

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

During the Holocaust, Nazis did not only target Jews. They sent many other groups to concentration camps as well. In late 1930s, Nazi Germany, Liesel’s has lost her family. Her father, accused of being a communist, is sent to a Nazi concentration camp, and her brother has died. Liesel goes to live with a foster family. She has a habit of stealing books, and stole her first book before she was even able to read—a gravedigger’s manual from her brother’s funeral. Her foster father uses this manual to teach Liesel to read. The story is told by Death (you know, the Grim Reaper) as Liesel lives through the war years. Liesel gains an eclectic group of friends and supporters, including the Jewish man hiding in her foster family’s house.

This is a book that is difficult to explain without ruining its experience. It was originally published for adults, but in the U.S. is published for young adults, maybe because it is about a child. Parts can be disturbing, and the book is great to read with others with whom you can discuss it. The Book Thief stands out from the herd of other Holocaust and World War II books, and I highly recommend it.

Book; 14+; ISBN 978-0375842207; New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Would you like to live in a society where everybody is equal? How about if equality means that everyone gets a special surgery that makes them pretty or handsome? Not too bad huh? That is the world in which Tally Youngblood lives. Turning sixteen means a surgury that will make you beautiful and hot. Once you've turned from an Ugly to a Pretty, you also get to go live in a city where your only responsibility is to party and have fun. Tally is excited to turn sixteen and get to go join her friends who have already become Pretties. It is what she has wanted her entire life. However, in the weeks before her sixteenth birthday, Tally meets Shay, who does not want to become Pretty. The two girls develop a bond, and Shay invites Tally to run away with her to live with others who do not want to become Pretty. Tally cannot imagine not becoming a Pretty and turns Shay down. Just in case, Shay gives Tally cryptic instructions for how to find her should Tally change her mind.

When Shay disappears, Tally is brought in to the authorities and questioned about her friend. They strike Tally a deal: either show them the way to Shay and her friends who chose to stay Ugly or stay Ugly forever herself. To find Shay and the other rebels, and ultimately betray their whereabouts, Tally sets off on a dangerous journey by herself. Her journey will expose her so called perfect society for what it really is and lead her to discover what is truly important in life. If only she will survive it.

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It is not the fluffy novel I expected. Westerfeld created a story of extreme environmentalism and equality. It takes place in the future but does not feel like a typical sci-fi story. Westerfeld is great at keeping just enough unknown to encourage the reader into each chapter. This would be a great book for a book report as there is lots to think about and respond to, but it is still a fun read. I couldn't put it down. It is the first of a trilogy, and I can't wait to get my hands on the other books.

Book; 14+; ISBN 978-0689865381; New York: Simon Pulse, 2005

Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Imagine a world where vampires (or rather vampyres as it's spelled in this story) live openly among humans. That's the world in which Zoey Redbird lives. Zoey lives an average teen life near Tulsa, Oklahoma. Then one day at school, she is Marked. That means Zoey will turn into a Vampyre- unless she is unable to survive the change from human to vampyre. In Zoey's world, becoming a vampyre is not cool. Her society is generally prejudiced against vampyres, and Zoey is horrified to have to admit to her friends and family that she will become one. Plus, being marked a vampyre means Zoey will have to leave her family to go to House of Night, a vampyre boarding school where fledgling vampyres learn how to be, well, vampyres.

Zoey finds strength in her Cherokee heritage as she tries to deal with the loss of her prejudiced family and friends and learns the ways of her new life. However, she must deal with the extraordinary details of life as a vampyre fledgling. Zoey has unusual powers for a new vampyre, and this causes jealousy and suspicion among some of her new classmates at House of Night- especially Aphrodite, the leader of the Dark Daughters, an exclusive club. Compounding her problems, Zoey's ex-boyfriend becomes obsessed with her. Luckily, Zoey gains a new group of supportive friends and a mentor to help her navigate through her first days at the House of Night.

Marked is the first book in the House of Night series so don't expect all of Zoey's problems to be solved in these pages. I was worried that with two authors, the book would be disjointed and difficult to follow, but that is not the case. The story unfolds smoothly and it is difficult to put down without trying to peek at the next chapter. Some parts did feel a little long to me. For example, the rituals are described and more detail than I cared for, but that might just be me. I tend to like my books to get to the point quickly. Overall however, I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next installment.

Book; 13+; ISBN 978-1742141862; New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Wouldn't it be cool to be able to read minds and know the moods of those around you? Ever Bloom can, but she is not so happy about it. Ever has lost almost her entire family in a car accident and now lives with her older sister, who is a successful lawyer in southern California. Ever almost died in the accident too, and, after a near death experience, has been able to read people's minds and see their auras. Unfortunately, she cannot turn her power on and off at will. School is sometimes overwhelming with the overload of her classmates' and teachers' thoughts, and has gone from the popular teen she once was to a reclusive girl who hides under hoodies and constantly has her iPod's earphones blocking out the world around her.

Then, one day, the hot new guy, Damen, sits next to Ever and she finds relief from the onslaught of thoughts. She is also unable to hear Damen's thoughts or see his aura. Gradually, Ever realizes that Damen is not a normal human either. As she falls for Damen, Ever finds herself in danger as someone else also wants him, and this girl will stop at nothing to claim the guy she believes is destined to be hers- even if it means killing Ever. Talk about crazy stalkers!

In the beginning, this story seems like another Twilight wannabe- down to how Ever and Damen meet in science class. However, after a few chapters, it develops into its own story line. To explain how the story is different would give away one of the surprises of the novel so you'll have to read it for yourself. It does stand out from all the other vampire and supernatural books that have inundated bookshelves in the past couple years. It is an addictive read and will have you staying up late to read "just one more chapter."

Book; 13+; ISBN 978-0312532758; New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2009.