Plot Summary: In New Beijing, cyborg and mechanic Cinder remembers very little from her childhood, in particular the events which led to her utilizing robotic limbs. She is enlisted to repair the handsome Prince Kai's personal android, where she hides the fact that she is a cyborg due to stigma surrounding them. After her stepsister Peony becomes fatally ill with the incurable disease Letumosis, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her for plague research, meaning she will be injected with the disease. Cinder is found to be immune to the deadly disease, a fact which is more important after the Emperor passes away, making Prince Kai the new emperor.

The Lunars, a species from the Moon who have the ability to control others with their minds, visit Earth under the proposition of making peace with the planet by marrying their queen, Levana, to Emperor Kai. Queen Levana came to power after her niece and rightful heir, Princess Selene, apparently perished in the fire. Many Earthens, including Emperor Kai, believe that Queen Levana staged the fire to gain power and that Princess Selene is alive. Cinder learns that she is Lunar with no apparent abilities possessed by the Lunar race, thus making her immune to the disease, and that Queen Levana plans on killing Emperor Kair after their marriage is complete.

Cinder informs Kai of Queen Levana's plans at the ball thrown in honor of the upcoming wedding between Queen Levana and Emperor Kai, yet her true nature as a Lunar cyborg is revealed and Emperor Kai has no choice but to place her in prison and move forward with the marriage in hopes of peace between the planets. It is revealed to Cinder that she is in fact the long-lost Princess Selene, saved by a doctor on Luna and sent to Earth with no memories or powers in order to protect her. Cinder decides that now that she knows she is the true queen of Luna she must stop Queen Levana at any cost.

Reader's Annotation: Cinder is a Cinderella retelling set in a dystopian world in Cinder is a cyborg who must uncover her mysterious past in order to help the future of her world.

Critical Analysis: This richly-built world full of familiar characters is an action-packed adventure combining fantasy, science-fiction, and romance that is sure to leave teen readers wanting more. Cinder is a relatable character and different than many princess-like heroines due to the fact that she has been an outcast her entire life, with no friends or family to rely on besides her sister Peony, who tragically passes away due to the disease created by Queen Levana. Readers can't help but feel for her situations, whether they are happy or sad, due to Marissa Meyer's ability to create well-rounded characters. The romance between Cinder and Prince/Emperor Kai is gradual and sweet rather than instant-love present in many fairytales. Prince/Emporer Kai has more depth than many princes in fairytales, demonstrating an earnest love for his people and genuine caring for those around him. Queen Levana is a character who is instantly recognizable as a villain, yet interesting to watch. Her interactions with both Kai and Cinder are interesting due to the rage clearly simmering below the surface and dislike of Earthens. This story has everything a reader could ask for in a fantasy/science fiction story: intrigue, adventure, mystery, action, and intricate world building that makes you feel as though it is real.

Other Books in the Series: Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2), Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3), Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4)

Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 7-12 per Booksource

Challenge Issues: Mild violence, romantic situations

Reason for Selecting: These books are New York Times best-sellers that have been published internationally ("International Editions," n.d.).

Plot Summary: Hobbit Bilbo Baggins reluctantly agrees at a dinner party he was tricked into having into assisting the dwarf Thorin Oakenshield and his group, along with wizard Gandalf, into reclaiming the ancient treasures at Lonely Mountain that has been overtaken by a fearsome dragon named Smaug. They encounter many different obstacles on their journey, such as trolls and the goblins found in the Misty Mountains, and a mysterious creature named Gollum in possession of ring with magical powers. They pass through Lake-town, a community near Lonely Mountain that has been effected by Smaug and wish to see him defeated, before reaching the entrance to Lonely Mountain. Bilbo finds entrance to Smaug's lair and steals a cup from the dragon, sending him into a rage and incorrectly deducing that Lake-town is the culprit. Before Smaug can completely destroy the town, Bilbo informs Lake-town's defender Bard of Smaug's vulnerable hollow spot, leading to Smaug's demise when Bard shoots him with an arrow.

The dwarves take possession of Lonely Mountain and its riches, yet Bilbo hides away the Arkenstone heirloom from Thorin's dynasty. Wood-elves and Lake-town residents request compensation for their aid and for repairs needed in Lake-town, yet Thorin refuses, causing tension between the groups. To prevent a war, Bilbo tries to utilize the Arkenstone as a peace-keeper to no avail. Bilbo is banished by Thorin, and Gandalf warns everyone of the vicious creatures named Wargs and goblins who are approaching. The elves, humans, and dwarves band together and the epic Battle of the Five Armies ensues, which ultimately causes Thorin's death. Thorin and Bilbo reconcile before he dies, and Bilbo returns home to the Shire with a small amount of wealth for his part in the journey.

Reader's Annotation: A hobbit named Bilbo Baggins must embark on a dangerous journey far from home in order to save the world, where he encounters dragons, wizards, and mysterious rings.

Critical Analysis: One of the first fantasy novels written for young adults, The Hobbit creates a rich world of fantasy that immerses and bewitches readers from the first page. The unforgettable characters in The Hobbit, such as Gandalf, Bilbo, and Gollum, will leave readers feeling like they are old friends by the end of the novel. At times both frightening yet irresistible, Tolkien creates a fantastical realty where anything and everything is possible, and heroes are made out of those who least expect it.

Other Books in the Series: Though it is a stand-alone novel, The Hobbit is part of a larger Middle-Earth Universe by Tolkien, which includes The Lord of the Rings.

Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 5-9 per Booksource

Challenge Issues: Mild violence, magic, mythical creatures

Reason for Selecting: This story is considered a classic, and has spawned numerous multi-million dollar movies.

Plot Summary: 18-year-old bounty hunter Emika Chan finds herself roped into becoming a spy after accidentally appearing in the internationally famous virtual reality game Warcross due to a glitch in the system. Young game creator Hideo Tanaka enlists Emika's help, revealing that a hacker has infiltrated the game in hopes of taking down his company. Emika suspects her Warcross teammates of working with the mysterious hacker Zero, and the situation escalates when Hideo is almost killed in an assassination attempt during a tournament. Emika and Hideo develop feelings for each other and form a relationship, leading Hideo to open up about his guilt over his younger brother's disappearance years ago, driving him to create Warcross. After conducting dangerous and risky research, Emika discovers that Zero and his team are trying to bring down Hideo because he is planning to utilize the virtual reality glasses needed for Warcross to control everyone in the world. Hideo wishes to rid the world of crime by making it impossible for criminals to act on their impulses, virtually removing free-will. Emika can understand his reasoning, but also sees how too much power could prove harmful and that removing free-will is immoral. Hideo is convinced what he is doing is right and refuses to change his mind, leading Emika to meet with Zero, who is revealed to be Hideo's younger brother hoping to stop him however he can.

Reader's Annotation: Emika Chan can't believe that she's in the Warcross finals, even if she's playing the part of spy to determine who is trying to hack the game. While she let her feelings for the game's handsome young creator Hideo get in the way of her mission, or will she do whatever is necessary for the fate of humanity?

Critical Analysis: Although the world within Warcross can be confusing at times, readers will find it difficult to put down this science-fiction heavy dystopian where video games are integrated into everyday life, and those who were closest to you turn out to be the villain all along. Emika Chan has had a difficult life, leading her to be distrustful of people and finding difficulty in letting others into her life, which is why it is so heart-breaking when Hideo is revealed to be a villain who has a clear vision of a utopian future, no matter how misguided it may seem. Hideo is an interesting character because you can see his reasoning for wanting to rid the world of crime; after all, isn't that what the vast majority of people want? Simultaneously, the reader knows that taking away free-will is too large of a power for anyone, however well-intentioned they may be, so they (like Emika) are faced with a moral dilemma. The action scenes within the game Warcross provide light-hearted fun, yet it is truly the relationships between Emika, her Warcross teammates, and the mysteriously seductive Hideo that make this story so interesting.

Other Books in the Series: Wildcard (Warcross #2)

Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 7-12 per Booksource

Challenge Issues: Mild violence, romantic situations, mild language, political intrigue

Reason for Selecting: This is the best-selling newest series by Marie Lu, a popular fantasy/science fiction author for young adults.

Plot Summary: Mare Barrow lives in a world where classes are divided by the color of people's blood: those with silver blood have magical powers assigned at birth and therefore have all of the wealth and power, leaving those with red blood in their servitude and poverty. While working at the king's palace, Mare miraculously displays electromagnetic powers in front of many royal silver-bloods. The king, fearing a red-blood uprising, decides to disguise Mare as Mareena Titanos, the long-lost daughter of a long dead silver-blood noble and the king's second son Maven's bride. Mare had previously met the king's first son Cal and is confused, growing to care for them both. Mare and Maven join a rebel group called the Scarlet Guard consisting of red-bloods who want justice and equality and secretly helps planning an attack on several important silvers. The attack kills many innocents and results in the capture of many members of the Scarlet Guard, including her childhood friend Kilorn. The king's brother-in-law Julian has been interested in helping and learning about Mare, and discovers through testing her blood that she possesses a mutation that is not only rare but makes her stronger than a silver. He informs her that her brother, who was executed, exhibited the same qualities as her and provides her with a list of other known red-bloods with powers. At Maven's suggestion, Mare plans an infiltration with the Scarlet Guard to the king's residence. Mare wishes to involve Cal, whom she has also grown feelings for, but he refuses and is betrayed by her allegiance to the Scarlet Guard. The king's wife and Maven's mother, Queen Elara, reveals that she and Maven have been manipulating Mare the whole time in order to overthrow the King, and uses her mind control to force Cal to kill the king on live television. To the public it appears as though Mare and Cal overthrew the king in order to gain control, so they are sentenced to death and Maven is declared king. Mare and Cal are rescued by the Scarlet Guard, and they both vow to take revenge against Maven.

Reader's Annotation: Red-blooded Mare Barrow possesses powers that only silver bloods should have, leading her to disguise herself as a silver-blood with royalty to hide this fact; falling for the silver-blooded princes was never the plan, and it can lead her and everyone around her to ruin.

Critical Analysis: Red Queen does an excellent job at allowing the reader to relate to Mare's struggles with impossible situations, such as leaving her family behind to live at the palace, fearing for her life while pretending to be a noble silver, and developing feelings for two drastically different men. Cal is charming yet often infuriating, knowing that his way of life is not necessarily the best for everyone but believing it is the best because the world has always worked this way. It is easy to fall for Maven, the younger brother who was never meant to be king and supposedly wanted to help Mare change the world, which is why it is devastating to both Mare and the reader when he is revealed to be villain who was tricking Mare the entire time. It is clear that his feelings for her are real, which he is ashamed of, which makes his actions all the worse. The world feels very lived in and well thought out, making the reader feel as though this is entirely plausible.

Other Books in the Series: Glass Sword (Red Queen #2), King's Cage (Red Queen #3), War Storm (Red Queen #4)

Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 8-12 per Booksource

Challenge Issues: Violence, romantic situations, abuse, magic

Reason for Selecting: Red Queen is a best-selling series that has won numerous choice awards, including the 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards ("Red Queen," n.d.).

Plot Summary: "After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up." (https://www.amazon.com/5th-Wave-First-Book/dp/0142425834 )

Reader's Annotation: Cassie Sullivan is one of the only survivors of the invasion by "The Others," which came in "waves," and must fight to find her younger brother she was separated from by infiltrating the military base many young people were recruited into.

Critical Analysis: More science fiction than fantasy, The 5th Wave is an action-packed thrilling adventure/mystery that is intriguing and very readable. Many readers will relate to the main character Cassie in her struggle to find her younger brother while also struggling with her growing feelings for Ben, who she had a crush on in high school before the invasion, and Evan, who saves her life but is part of the alien race that is trying to exterminate humans. Ben's training in the ARMY-like camp can be clunky at times, feeling detached from Cassie's story, but ultimately provides important during the climactic finale of the book. Ben is also a sympathetic character, coming to terms with the fact that his duties as a soldier was part of the Others plan and that he is actually contributing to ending human-kind. Rick Yancey does an excellent job of immersing the reader into this grim-looking world, making this novel a great science-fiction read.

Other Books in the Series: The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2), The Last Star (The 5th Wave #3)

Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 10-12 per Booksource

Challenge Issues: Violence, romantic situations, weapons, militarization

Reason for Selecting: This book is a best-seller that was developed into a full-length movie and spawned two follow-up novels.

Plot Summary: "Harry Potter's life is miserable. His parents are dead and he's stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he's a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry's first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it's his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined," (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone)

Reader's Annotation: After learning he is a wizard, Harry must navigate the hidden wizarding world while learning about mysteries from his past that puts him in dangerous situations.

Critical Analysis: A

Other Books in the Series: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)

Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 4-12 per Booksource

Challenge Issues: Mild violence, magic, bullying, emotional abuse

Reason for Selecting: Although the first few books within the series are geared for younger readers, as the main character gets older the books age up and become more appropriate for teenagers. This series is ground-breaking and often credited for revitalizing the young adult fantasy genre. Movies, spin-offs, theme parks, and merchandise have been created for this series world-wide.