1.       The Alchemyst: the secrets of the immortal. By Michael Scott (2007)                                                                                                                                      FANTASY

This fantasy uses well integrated mythological references and inferences that do not slow down the exciting action.

2.      Chosen by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (2008)                         

       WITCHES, WEREWOLVES, VAMPIRES

Students with a vampire interest will flock to this story, but it does contain explicit language and sexual situations.

 

3.      City of bones by Cassandra Clare (2007)                                                              `                                                                                                                                   HORROR

Werewolves, vampires, angels and fairies all fit in this compelling story about family secrets and coming-of-age identity crises.

 

4.      Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman.                                                                                                                                                                                            FANTASY

Inspired by Asian culture, the author weaves a fantasy with themes about gender identity and female power.

 

5.      Impulse by Ellen Hopkins (2007)

      FREE VERSE

Using  free verse the author tells the stories of three teens who have attempted suicide  and are together in a psychiatric hospital.  Drugs, abortion, sexual identity and dysfunctional families is not for the tenderhearted, squeamish reader; it paints a brutally honest picture of these tormented characters, but also provides a powerful testimonial for the resilience of the human spirit.

 

6.      The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman (2008)                                                 

URBAN

Three juvenile delinquents with distinctly different criminal records live minute by minute to stay out of the “the big house” and manage to live together in a half-way house.  With both humor and flashes of sadness the author handles each boy’s character and situations in increasingly absurd situations.

 

7.      Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (2008)                                                             

FAMILY LIFE

Again Dessen uses deeply sympathetic characters to explore issues of family, trust, and responsibility..  After Ruby is abandoned by her mother she lives with her sister whom she has not seen in ten years.

 

 

 

8.      Paper Towns by John Green (2008)                                                                                                                                                                                                              MYSTERY

Senior “Q” is one month before graduating from a central Florida high school when his neighbor, classmate, and love interest takes him on a midnight adventure and then disappears.

 

 

9.      Something Rotten by Alan Gratz (2007)                                                             

MYSTERY

The author combines Hamlet and hardboiled detective pulp novel. During a vacation from their academy, Horatio Wilkes accompanies his buddy Hamilton Prince to Denmark, Tenn.

 

 

10.  Thirteen R3asons Why (2007)                                                             

SCHOOL STORIES

After Hannah commits suicide Clay receives a package with tapes explaining the 13 reasons why she did it.  A Clay name is listed and as he follows the story from the tapes, his life is drastically changed.