Library

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres
"A garden produces a variety of edible plants, such as corn that grows up, onions that grow down, and tomato vines that twine all around."

The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
A baby receives a birthday present. While he loves the dog inside the box, he is most thrilled with the box.

Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horcek
Wonderful cut-aways and colorful illustrations

Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash! Counting Round and Round by Suse MacDonald
Have fun counting fish forward and backwards in the colorful, clever, cut-out, reversible book.

A Closer Look by Mary McCarthy
Lovely large collage pictures lead the reader on a journey of discovery. You'll find a lady bug, a flower, and a hummingbird.

How Do You Make a Baby Smile? by Philemon Sturges
Catchy rhyming words with vivid artwork

Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Here's a cute companion to Walsh's other mouse books. Use it to motivate kids to make things out of shapes.

Elusive Moose by Joan Gannij
I liked the story line and LOVED the felt embroidery pictures.

Mrs. Claus Takes a Vacation by Linas Alsenas
Mrs. Claus has never taken a vacation. So she packs her bags and leaves the North Pole for an extended vacation around the world. Mrs. Claus is a great role model for senior citizens.

Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker
Here's a new look at an old rhyme. The mouse starts the fun and is followed by a parade of animals on the hour. Find the mouse on every two page spread.

Dear Deer byGene Barretta
This playful book takes a fun look at homophones through the animals in a zoo.

When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach
"Although his mother is a little worried, a young boy is delighted to discover that every shop in town is giving away real dinosaurs to their customers." A young dinosaur lover's fantasy come true!

Birthday at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson
Panda's throwing a party for mouse's birthday. The gifts are announced with rhymes that encourage the reader to guess what the present will be.

The Magic Rabbit by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Rabbit books are always in demand and here's a good one. A magician and his rabbit are best friends. During a performance they are accidentally separated and rabbit finds his way back to Ray with the help of a little magic. Black and white drawings highlighted with magical gold stars.

The Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin
"A young fly discovers, day by day, that there is a lot to learn about being an insect, including the dangers of flypaper and that heroes come in all shapes and sizes."

Cowlick! by Christin Ditchfield
A cute story about how two boys wake up with cowlicks in their hair.

Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer
Our favorite pig, Olivia, is just being herself this holiday season.

Where the Giant Sleeps by Mem Fox
A child dreams of the toys in his room. This is a wonderful bedtime book to share over and over again. Great interplay between the short verses and the expressive, impressionistic pictures. Some parents will object to the mention of an ogre, a wizard and witches.

The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend
Jack, a hungry farm cat, builds the perfect nest for a hen to use to lay her eggs. Instead of one chicken and one egg he ends up with three fighting fowl, a chicken, a duck and a goose. After they each lay an egg, Jack tries to scare them away, but they won't budge. They stay so long that when they do leave instead of eggs for an omelet, Jack has three baby birds who think he's mom. Expressive pictures help make this fun for reading out loud.

Red, Red, Red by Valeri Gorbachev
Anticipation builds in the story where the color red is the main focus

The Secret Life of Walter Kitty by Barbara Jean Hicks
In tribute to James Thurber, this book is a fun frolic for cat people.

123: A Child's First Counting Book by Alison Jay
A young girl dreams of a fairy tale world. She counts here way from fairy tale to fairy tale. Lots to count and explore in Jay's artwork.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers
Henry discovers a new thing to do with books - READ THEM!

Who's In the Tub? by Sylvie Jones
"Willie John Jones is stalling before taking his bath, but when a variety of animals join him, his mother has a hard time getting him out of the bathtub." A nicely constructed book with pages that overlap to reveal surprises.

Little Donkey and the Birthday Present by Rindert Kromhout
A young donkey buys a gift for a friend's birthday and then wants to keep it for himself.

Wolf's Coming! by Joe Kulka
The pigs, rabbits, and raccoons all seem to be afraid of the wolf, but are they really? Here's a fun read aloud, a little scary, but ends with a happy surprise.

The End by David LaRochelle
The story begins at the end and works backwards from one funny "cause and effect" to another. It begins (ends) with a wedding and ends (begins) with a pig flying! Great old fashioned fairy tale illustrations.

The Sheep in Wolf's Clothing by Helen Lester
"Clothing is important to Ewetopia, but her carefully-chosen wolf outfit fails to impress the other sheep at the Woolyones' costume ball until a real wolf appears dressed as a sheep, mistakes her for his mother, and throws a tantrum when she outsmarts him."

I Love my Pirate Papa by Laura Leuck
A rhyming story about fathers and sons

Chicky Chicky Chook Chook by Cathy MacLennan
Here's a lovely sounding text which incorporates, rhyme, rhythm and alliteration to tell a bouncing tale of chicks, kitties and buzzy bees playing on a summer day.

The Scallywags by David Melling
The Scallywags are very poorly behaved and their neighbors want nothing to do with them. Wanting to fit in, they learn manners and before long, they are so polite and nicely dressed that they aren't recognized. At first the other animals are delighted with their "new" friends, but when the wolves admonish the pigs to stop slurping their soup and the geese to quit honking with food in their mouths, the group begins wishing for the old Scallywags.

The Bravest Knight by Mercer Mayer
This reissue of an early Mayer book is an imaginative look at the adventures of knights in shining armor. The surprise ending is fun and the pictures are impressive.

The Snow Globe Family by Jane O'Connor
"Two families--a large one that lives in a house and the other a tiny one that lives in a snow globe, look forward to a big snowstorm."

Not a Box! by Antoinette Portis
Once the structure of the book is established, imaginations get busy. A big hit with the 1st graders and I'm Going to 1st Grade participants.

The Very Best Bed by Rebekah Raye
Lovely illustrations help tell the story of a gray squirrel looking for a place to spend the night.

Great Big Guinea Pigs by Susan L. Roth
A little guinea pig asks his mother for a bedtime story.

The Bunnies are not in their Beds by Marisabina Russo
Three young bunnies are too busy playing to go to bed. A fun bedtime read full of naughty bunnies, tired parents and the promise that everyone does sleep in the end.

The Lamb Who Came to Dinner by Steve Smallman
Just as a hungry wolf is hoping for some lamb to put in his vegetable soup, a small lamb shows up at his door. Will he succumb to her charms or will he eat her? A little bit sweet, but still a fun read.

Who Is Driving? by Leo Timmers
Guess which animal is driving the firetruck, fancy car, jeep, tractor, race car, pink car and airplane. The animals are wearing clues. Great sound effects in this book.

Knuffle-Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems
Trixie's back and she takes her Knuffle Bunny to school. But it turns out that another girl has the exact same Knuffle Bunny as Trixie. Of course the bunnies go home with the wrong girl which leads to an exchange of bunnies in the middle of the night. As good as the first Knuffle Bunny.

Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee
Here's a special look at an April shower through the eyes of a little girl. A good choice for phonological awareness.

Once Upon a Banana by Jennifer Armstrong
A monkey's desire for a banana turns the streets of a busy city upside down. This wordless tale is told through rhyming street signs and delightfully detailed watercolor paintings by Caldecott Medal recipient David Small.

Princess Justina Albertina: A Cautionary Tale by Ellen Dee Davidson
"A spoiled, demanding young princess who sends her nanny to the far corners of the world in search of the perfect pet finally gets exactly what she deserves."

The House Takes a Vacation by Jacqueline Davies
This book brings a house to life as it decides to go on vacation. A lot of play on words.

Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
It is just before Christmas when an organ grinder and monkey appear on the street corner outside Frances's apartment. When the day of the Christmas pageant arrives, and it's Frances's turn to speak, everyone waits silently. But all Frances can think about is the organ grinder's sad eyes - until, just in time, she finds the perfect words to share. A beautiful story with beautiful illustrations

Little Tad Grows Up by Giuliano Ferri
This is a funny, endearing look at what it means to grow up.

Bird Songs by Betsy Franco
This lavishly illustrated count-it-down story describes a day filled with bird songs.

Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke
Princess Isabella rebels by throwing her tiara in the fish pond. She is sent to work in the pigsty and likes it.

Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman
This is a wordless book about an imaginative trip on a rainy day.

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
This is a true story of Henry Brown, the son of a slave, who watches his family being sold. As an adult, he enlists the help of an abolitionist doctor and mails himself in a wooden crate "to a place where there are no slaves!" Powerful pictures

Slugs in Love by Susan Pearson
Marylou pines for Herbie. To attract his attention she writes poems to him with her slime on assorted items in the garden. Herbie wants to meet her, but something always happens to the poems he writes in return. Fun!

Pictures from our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins
Here's a realistic look at the ups and downs of a vacation: the long drive, the motel pool being empty, the grandparents farm house being old and dusty, the endless days of rain, and finally the happy arrival of young relatives. Great illustrations by Perkins

Move Over, Rover by Karen Beaumont
Cute story written in rhyme with a surprise at the end

A Star So Bright: a Christmas Tale by M. Christina Butler
Here's nice tale of anticipation. The flickering stars at the end are a wonderful touch.

Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise by James Howe
Houndsley is sad because he doesn't know when his birthday is. When he thinks he has hurt his best friend Catina, he plans a special birthday party for her. Catina also plans a party. Cute illustrations by Marie-Louise Gay (Reader 2)

Annie and Snowball and the Dress-Up Birthday: The First Book of Their Adventures by Cynthia Rylant
"Annie and her pet rabbit, Snowball, invite Henry and Mudge to a dress-up birthday party, but there is some confusion about what the guests are supposed to wear." A great new series! (Reader 2)

Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney
An old tale told again, with wonderful illustrations.

Why Are the Ice Caps Melting?: The Dangers of Global Warming
by Anne Rockwell
"Tells about the greenhouse effect, recycling, and what you can do to help fight global warming." An Inconvenient Truth-lite! (ENF 363.7387 ROCKWELL)

A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
Poetic explanation of seeds. (ENF 581.467 ASTON)

A Second is a Hiccup: A Child's Book of Time by Hazel Hutchins
Here's the answer to all those questions about time and how long is a moment, minute, hour, day etc. It's a sweet, literary look at time. (ENF 529 HUTCHINS)

Who Likes the Wind? by Etta Kaner
Open the flaps to find the science of the wind (JUV 551.51 KANER)

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
A book that finally answers the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg? (Or, does it??) (ENF 571.8 SEEGER)

Between the Tides by Fran Hodgkins
Describes the ecosystem of a tide pool. While the shoreline may look boring, when the water is there, it is another story. Great pictures and even nicely rhymed text; endnotes fill in information where the rhymes do not.
(ENF 577.69 HODGKINS)

Lisa the Lion by Jan Latta
One in the series, Wild Animal Families, this book presents information attractively and at a level that is very accessible for new readers.
(ENF 599.757 LATTA)

Dogs and Cats by Steve Jenkins
A factual book about dogs and cats. One side is cats, flip the book over, and it is all about dogs! Illustrations are done in Jenkins' signature paper collage style. (JUV 636.7 JENKINS)

I Spy Colors in Art by Lucy Micklethwait
Combine the game, I Spy, with some famous art and you have a great way to introduce children to famous and not so famous art work.
(ENF 750.11 MICKLETH)

Follow the Line Through the House by Laura Ljungkvist
"Rhyming text invites the reader to search different rooms of a house to find hidden objects." (ENF 793.7 LJUNGKVIST)

The Story of Charles Atlas, Strong Mans by Meghan McCarthy
"Simple text and illustrations present the life of fitness legend Charles Atlas." (ENF 92 ATLAS)

Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson by Sue Stauffacher
Biography of the first black tennis player to compete in the U. S. Open and Wimbledon (ENF 92 GIBSON)

Surfer of the Century: the life of Duke Kahanamoku by Ellie Crowe
"A biography of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, five-time Olympic swimming champion from the early 1900s who is also considered worldwide as the 'father of modern surfing" (ENF 92 KAHANAMOKU)

Dolley Madison Saves George Washington by Don Brown
Story of how Dolley Madison saved a famous portrait of George Washington during the War of 1812. (ENF 92 MADISON)

The Longest Season: The Story of the Orioles 1988 Loosing Streak
by Cal Ripkin
A Hall of Famer Baseball player looks back at his long career. Ripken's straightforward observations and heartfelt recollections make this a book that should connect with many young readers. (ENF 92 RIPKEN)

Jesses Owens: Fastest Man Alive by Carole Boston Weatherford
A biography of Olympic track and field star Jesse Owens and the barriers he encountered because of his race. (ENF 92 OWENS)

Barack Obama: Politics of Hope by Michael Davis
Biography of his life (JUV 92 OBAMA)

All in a Day's Work: Careers Using Science by Megan Sullivan
An NSTA Press Journals Collection. Gives education needed and related careers. Good reference book for learning about careers.
(JUV 331.79 SULLIVAN)

Woe Is I, Jr.: The Younger Grammaphobe's Guide to Better English In Plain English by Patricia T. O'Connor
Just as in her book for adults, Patricia O'Connor uses simple language and witty, entertaining examples to show how fun and easy it can be to use good English. (JUV 425 O'CONNER)

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsum, and the Science of Motion
by Loree Griffin Burns
Describes the work of a man who tracks trash as it travels great distances by way of ocean currents Good information about ocean pollution (JUV 551.46 BURNS)

Hurricanes by Judy & Dennis Fradin
A National Geographic Witness to a Disaster book on hurricanes.
(JUV 551.552 FRADIN)

Outside and Inside Woolly Mammoths by Sandra Markle
Pretty amazing photos and interesting, readable, succinct text.
(JUV 569.67 MARJKE)

Don't Squash That Bug!: The Curious Kid's Guide to Insects
by Natalie Rompella
Great photos, text, and drawings. (JUV 595.7 ROMPELLA )

Life-Size Reptiles by Hannah Wilson
Similar to Jenkins Actual Size, the attraction here are the great life-size pictures of all kinds of reptiles. Make sure you see the bloody Komodo Dragon and Saltwater Crocodile. (JUV 597.9 WILSON)

Face to Face with Grizzlies by Joel Sartore
This was published by National Geographic and full of amazing photos and interesting information. (JUV 599.784 SARTORE)

Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book by Steven Caney
How to build anything, using everyday products. (JUV 624 CANEY)

Go! by Samone Bos, Phil Hunt, Andrea Mills
Go! is an comprehensive picture book covering water, land and air travel. It is truly a visual delight. (JUV 629.04 GO)

Is My Cat a Tiger? by Jenni Bidner
For the cat lover in us all! (JUV 636.8 BIDNER)

Great Teams in Hockey History by Luke DeCock
Great Teams in Hockey History names ten of the greatest teams in hockey history and tells what made them stand out. (JUV 796.962 DeCOCK)

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Wonderful monologues and short dramas tell unforgettable stories about what it took to survive in the Middle Ages. Newbery Gold Medal 2008 (JUV 812.6 Schlitz)

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Marcia Williams
Quick and dirty retelling of the tales complete with comic book style illustrations. This is a great resource for kids who have to read Chaucer. (JUV 821.1 Chaucer)

The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened & How
it Changed the World by Marc Aronson & John W. Glenn
Here's a concise look at why Columbus discovered America, what happened during the age of exploration and the consequences of this time. This book is well conceived, attractive and well written. (JUV 910.09 Aronson)

Gregor Mendel: The Friar who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe
"Regarded as the world's first geneticist, Mendel overcame poverty and obscurity to discover that animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process. Children will be inspired by Gregor's never-ending search for knowledge, and his famous experiments are easy to understand." (JUV 92 MENDEL)

The Snow Baby: The Arctic Childhood of Admiral Robert E. Peary's Daring Daughter by Katherine Kirkpatrick
Fascinating book. (JUV 92 PEARY)

Andy Warhol Pop Art Painter by Susan Goldman Rubin
This biography combines visual display with text to tell Warhol's life story and development as an artist. (JUV 92 WARHOL)

Through Time - Pompeii by Richard Platt
A great resource on Pompeii. Platt takes the history of the city, from pre-civilization to discovery of the ancient town, and explains it in chronological order, using great illustrations and a brief text. (JUV 937 PLATT)

Taj Mahal by Caroline Arnold and Madeleine Comora
"Recounts the love story behind the building of the Taj Mahal in India, discussing how it was constructed and providing information on Indian culture."
(JUV 954.02 ARNOLD)

Who Was First? Discovering the Americas by Russell Freedman
An intriguing book on the discovery of the Americas giving information on all of the explorers who sailed both before and after Christopher Columbus. (JUV 970.01 FREEDMAN)

The Many Rides of Paul Revere by James Cross Giblin
Although Paul Revere is best remembered as a Revolutionary War hero for his famous midnight ride, he was also an accomplished inventor and entrepreneur.(JUV 973.3 GIBLIN )

Jamestown, 1607 by Michael L. Cooper
This is a very good, readable historical book suited for children and good for adults as well. (JUV 975.5 COOPER)

Please Write in this Book by Mary Amato
"When Ms. Wurtz leaves a blank book in the Writer's Corner with a note encouraging those who find it to "talk to each other" in its pages, the student's entries spark a classroom-wide battle."

Return of the Killer Cat by Anne Fine
"Tuffy the pet cat narrates his escapades as he attempts to escape his family's cat-sitter and suffers through a humiliating episode of mistaken identity."

Mosse and Hildy Pig Pickin' by Stephanie Greene
Hildy the Pig is invited to enter a Pig Pickin' Contest. Is it a beauty contest or something else?

Rufus the Scrub Does Not Wear a Tutu by Jamie McEwan
Male and female stereotypes are explored as Rufus attends an all girl ballet class to improve his skills on the football field.

Vive la Paris by Esme Raji Codell
"Fifth-grader Paris learns some lessons about dealing with bullies of all kinds as she wonders how to stop a classmate from beating up her brother at school and as she learns about the Holocaust from her piano teacher, Mrs. Rosen." A book that is full of laughs and tears. (Fiction)

The White Elephant by Sid Fleischman
"In old Siam, young elephant trainer Run-Run and his old charge, Walking Mountain, must deal with the curse of a sacred white elephant." (Fiction)

Water Street by Patricia Reilly Giff
This book is a continuation of Nory Ryan's story during the time that the Brooklyn Bridge was being built. (Historical Fiction)

Remembering Mrs. Rossi by Amy Hest
After her mother dies, eight-year-old Annie Rossi does her best to cope, assisted by Remembering Mrs. Rossi, a book of memories compiled by her mother's sixth-grade students. (Fiction)

On the Wings of Hereos by Richard Peck
Great book about growing up during WWII (Historical Fiction)

Getting Air by Dan Gutman
"After foiling a terrorist hijacking aboard their airplane, fourteen-year-old Jimmy, his younger sister, and two skateboarding friends crash-land the plane and try to survive in a forest wilderness until help arrives." (Adventure)

A Dog for Life by L.S. Matthews
"When John, who has a special ability to communicate with animals, finds that his dog, Mouse is scheduled to go to the pound, he and Mouse decide to run away and find his uncle who may be able to help them." A great journey story, and much better than her last novel, Fish

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
"Things get out of hand for a twelve-year-old boy when a neighbor convinces him to expand his summer lawn mowing business." (Humor)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
"Burdened with the dark, dangerous, and seemingly impossible task of locating and destroying Voldermort's remaining Horcruxes, Harry, feeling alone and uncertain about his future, struggles to find the inner strength he needs to follow the path set out before him." This was a satisfying ending to a great fantasy series. (Fantasy)

A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
"At the Barbary Asylum for Female Orphans, eleven-year-old Maud is adopted by three spinster sisters moonlighting as mediums that take her home and reveal to her the role she will play in their séances." (Fiction)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures
by Brian Selznick
"When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toy seller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized." (Caldecott Gold Medal )

To Dance: A Memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel
"The author describes how she first decided she wanted to be a ballerina at the age of six, and how that dream carried her from her home in Puerto Rico to dance class in Boston to performing with the New York City Ballet." (Graphic)

Adam Canfiel, Watch Your Back! by Michael Winerip
"A much-welcomed snow day turns into an embarrassing nightmare for middle-grader Adam Canfield when, after being mugged by high school bullies for his snow-shoveling money, he becomes the focus of major media attention just as his co-editors at The Slash are launching a contest to out bullies at their school." A great page-turner (Mystery)

So Totally Emily Ebers by Lisa Yee
"In a series of letters to her absent father, twelve-year-old Emily Ebers deals with moving cross-country, her parents' divorce, a new friendship, and her first serious crush." (Fiction)

Beauty Shop For Rent by Laura Bowers
Abbey Garner lives with Granny Po who owns the local beauty shop. When the shop is sold, Abbey learns a lot about money, relationships, love, and some unpleasant family secrets. Reads like a Fannie Flagg novel

Blue Bloods by Melissa De la Cruz
"Select teenagers from some of New York City's wealthiest and most socially prominent families learn a startling secret about their bloodlines." They are vampires, and something is out to kill them off! Sequels are promised. (Paranormal)

Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
Book two in the "Blue Bloods" series. "Schuyler Van Alen, growing comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, seeks her grandfather in Italy, while back in New York plans are being completed for the fabulous Four Hundred Ball, to be followed by an elite, teens-only event at which masks hide a terrible secret." A great cliff-hanger. (Paranormal )

Cover Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl by John Feinstein
"Fledgling fourteen-year-old sports reporters Susan Carol and Stevie investigate suspicious activities at the Super Bowl after Stevie gets fired from his co-anchor job on a ground-breaking teen sports show." (Sports)

The Christopher Killer: A Forensic Mystery by Alane Ferguson
When aspiring forensic pathologist Cameryn Mahoney convinces her father, the county coroner of Silverton, Colorado, to hire her as his assistant, she has no idea that one of the first deaths she will investigate will be that of her friend, Rachel Geller. Reads like a CSI investigation (Mystery)

The Braid by Helen Frost
This is a compelling story of Scottish sisters, one who leaves Scotland for Canada with her parents and one who stays in Scotland with her grandmother. Their hardships and triumphs are beautifully told in a unique form of poetry. (Historical Fiction)

Blaze of Silver by K. M. Grant
This is Book 3 of the De Granville Trilogy. Knights, assassins, and betrayals along with friendship, romance, and rescues .during the Holy Crusades. Both Christian and Saracen viewpoints are told. Good read for boys and girls. (Historical Fiction)

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Child prodigy goes on a road trip the summer after he graduates high school in order to find what is missing in his life. (Fiction)

Devilish by Maureen Johnson
"Jane Jarvis, a senior at a Catholic girl's school in Providence, Rhode Island, tries to save her best friend by making a pact with a demon--in the form of a cupcake-eating, very friendly teenage girl." (Paranormal)

Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz
Alex Rider is back for another adventure as our favorite teen spy. (Adventure)

The Trap by John Smelcer
This is a moving story about an older Eskimo (grandfather) whose leg becomes trapped in a leg hold trap. The chapters go between the grandfather and his grandson, who wrestles with deciding on looking for his grandfather or not. (Adventure)

Strays by Ron Koertge
"16-year-old Ted, an orphan, is unhappy with his foster family and his new high school. A teenager's link to animals gives way to human connection." (Fiction)

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
"As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?" (Paranormal)

Everlost by Neal Shusterman
"When Nick and Allie are killed in a car crash, they end up in Everlost, or limbo for lost souls, where although Nick is satisfied, Allie will stop at nothing to break free." (Paranormal)

Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp
Star football player dealing with social issues. Very unstereotypical book with a strong moral at the didn't- see- it-coming ending. (Sports)

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
"After a nasty fall, Naomi realizes that she has no memory of the last four years and finds herself reassessing every aspect of her life." Another interesting take on being a teenage from Zevin-she makes your heart break for Naomi, but then puts it back together in a great ending. (Chic-Lit)