Spy Goddess: To Hawaii, with Love

by Michael Spradlin

Fifteen-year-old Rachel returns in this sequel as Spy Goddess for another fast-paced face-off against evil. As a reincarnated Goddess of Light, she must reach an ancient artifact before villain Simon Blankenship snaps it up and releases Mithras, the Goddess of the Underworld. Set in Hawaii and filled with fast paced action, this is a great book for anyone who enjoys spy fiction or action-adventure stories.

-- Philip S., Student

Liar

by Justine Larbalestier

Micah is a bi-racial 17 year old attending a progressive private high school in New York City. She is a bit of an outsider in her senior class and is known as a habitual liar. When her oh-so-secret boyfriend Zach mysteriously dies, she becomes one of the main suspects. Narrating her own story, Micah slowly begins to reveal truths about herself, her family, and the true relationship with Zach. Readers will be tempted to fly through this novel, though the wise will be wary of Micah's tale and read carefully for subtle slip-ups and foreshadowing. The chilling story that she spins will have readers’ hearts racing as in three sections she goes from "Telling the Truth," to "Telling the True Truth," to "Telling the Actual Real Truth," uncovering previous lies and revealing bizarre occurrences in the process. Nothing is as it seems.

-- Hollie Hawkins, Faculty

Meridian: Flying Solo

by Barbara Kesel (Author), Steve McNiven & Joshua Middleton (Illustrators)

This graphic novel tells the story of Sephie, the only daughter of the Minister of Meridian. When her loving father dies she inherits a sigil imbued with the power to create, and soon finds herself in a battle for power against her wicked Uncle Ilahn. Kidnapped to the world of Calador, Sephie’s journey home to Meridian puts her in the path of many people good and bad that help her grow up and counter Ilahn’s plans to take over her world.

-- Philip, S., Student

The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

This historical fiction novel focuses on the fascinating and complex relationships between vastly different members of a southern community in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college, and to the dislike of her mother, without a ring on her finger. Anxious to become a writer, she begins collecting stories from the black women on whom the country club set relies and mistrusts. Enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, perhaps the most outspoken maid in town, Skeeter delves deeper into the racial divides that palpitate throughout the community. With point of views and characterizations from each set of society, this book communicates with truth and honesty the highly charged atmosphere and feelings prominent in the pre-civil rights movement of the late '60's.

-- Martha Riley, Faculty

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.' So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. For more than 50 years England has been overrun by zombies, prompting families like the Bennets to send their daughters away to China for training in the art of deadly combat. Between scenes of zombie killings, Austen's plot can still be found along with all of its love and intrigue but now with more action! Added to the familiar plot turns that bring Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy together is the fact that both are highly skilled killers, gleefully slaying zombies on the way to their happy ending. This is an exciting update to the classic love story that is sure to bring the reader laughs, dry heaving, and tears of joy!

-- Hollie Hawkins, Faculty

Cairo: A Graphic Novel

by G. Willow Wilson

With beautiful drawings and details that bring the story to life, this graphic novel set in modern day Cairo, Egypt but with a fantastical-magical twist. Bringing together a host of interesting and diverse characters, the plot thickens as they navigate the city's streets and spiritual underworld to find a stolen hookah with a smooth talking genie inside. Sought by a wrathful gangster-magician, the hookah (and genie) become the catalyst for describing the true troubles, fates, and adventures that are found every day in Cairo.

--Chris, G., Student

Evernight

by Claudia Gray

Sixteen year-old Bianca has just been transferred to begin attending a new elite boarding school where her parents will now be professors. Feeling like an outsider, she meets rebel hottie Lucas Ross. As their relationship heats up, they try to uncover the truth behind the school's rich, beautiful, and gifted student body and faculty. What they don't know is that they both hold a dark personal secret that could threaten to rip apart their world forever. The intense and suspenseful ending will leave readers dying for the sequel! Filled with action, romance, and mystery, this book is sure to be a favorite of Twilight, Blue Bloods, and Vampire Academy fans.

-- Leah, S., Student

Open

by Andre Agassi

A real page turner! Open is the autobiography of tennis great Andre Agassi. In it, he reveals the ups and downs in both his professional and personal life. With open candor, humor, and humility, Agassi describes in detail the struggles of being a young super-star facing drug addiction, unhealthy relationships, depression, and a devastating loosing streak. But through perseverance, hard work, and the love of his family, coach, and wife he makes a triumphant return to the top. At once both funny and sad, this book is proof that Andre Agassi has had one of the most interesting lives and careers in sports history.

--Jason Gould, Faculty

The Recipe Club

by Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel

The Recipe Club is about two women who write letters to each other from childhood to adulthood. In each letter they include a recipe, therefore calling themselves "The Recipe Club!" The book is a story of friendship and families and explores the love, drama, secrets, and lies that go along with those complex relationships. You will enjoy seeing how the two womens' lives develop, reading about their different personalities, and discovering where their paths take them in life. Included is an index of all the book's recipes which are surprisingly fun and delicious to make! A very easy read that would make an excellent selection for any book club.

-- Shari Weisz, Faculty

Shiver

By Maggie Stiefvater

At a young age, Grace was attacked by the wolves that live in the woods behind her house. She survived thanks to one of the pack, "the wolf with the yellow eyes." Jack, a boy bitten by a wolf as a child, is her wolf savior. Since then, both Sam and Grace have remained captivated by one another. But after the apparent wolf attack and killing of Jack, a popular boy at Grace's high school, the town's citizens begin a hunt that leads to Sam being shot. His wound temporarily changes Sam from wolf to human form, and he and Grace finally meet. The two struggle to find a way to keep Sam human so they can stay together, but mysterious events are unfolding around town which threaten to tear them apart forever.

--Hollie Hawkins, Faculty

Life As We Knew It

by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life is pretty typical in suburbia Pennsylvania for 16-year old Miranda, and when she starts hearing rumors of a meteor on a collision course with the moon it seems like no big deal. But after the meteor hits and the moon's orbit is pushed closer to the Earth, nothing will be the same. Natural disasters strike across the globe, and Miranda and her family must begin to deal with a new "normal," as everything they used to take for granted disappears. Food and gas shortages, early arrivals of severe winters, riots, and deaths force everyone to take a close look at what it means to survive.

--Sarah, P., Student

November Blues

by Sharon M. Draper,

Packed with emotion and real-life drama, this sequel to The Battle of Jericho, does a great job of describing the struggles many teens go through in high school. When high school senior, November, realizes she is pregnant her whole life changes. Adding to the chaos is the fact that her boyfriend, Josh, recently died in a freak hazing accident. Also dealing with the death of Josh is Jericho, who gives up everything he enjoys doing because of the guilt he feels about his cousin's death. Both characters share there feelings by narrating parts of this story, and both realize they must help one another overcome the challenges ahead of them. Draper does a great job of making the reader feel as though they are the ones going through the characters' situations. This is a sequel but is sure to please readers all on its own!

--Briana C., Student

Atomic Robo & the Fightin' Scientists of Tesladyne (v. 1)

by Brian Clevinger & Scott Wegener

Atomic Robo is an awesome action/sci-fi/western graphic novel (that is also really funny)! In 1923, when scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla's career is fading, he reveals a robot with automatic intelligence - Atomic Robot! Soon Atomic Robo and crew are the go-to defense force against evil and the unexplained in the world. This volume is reminiscent of Hellboy or Umbrella Academy graphic novels, but if you like the idea of mechanical mummies, cyborgs, or Nazi brains that refuse to die, you'll like Atomic Robo!

-- Stephen, H., Student

Kiss and Blog

by Alyson Noel

When high school sophomore Winter is "dumped" by her life-long best friend
Sloane in favor of the popular crowd, she decides to get even. She begins writing a blog detailing Sloane's (aka "the Pink Princess") dirty little secrets. When the blog become far more popular than Winter ever imagined, she must deal with the consequences. Readers will love the way this story truly relates to many high school problems and situations, and the fast-paced drama is sure to please.

--Angela, A., Student

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

by Louise Rennison

What in the world is "snogging," and who exactly is Angus? In this hilarious Bridget Jones Diary - style book for a younger crowd, those questions and more are answered. Fourteen year-old Georgia chronicles her everyday misadventures in a comedy-filled diary which include embarrassing stories of her family, friends, and so-called love life. No topic is off limits, and through Georgia's experiences every teenager will find something to relate to. With wit, humor, and a delicious British vocabulary (don't worry American readers, Georgia has generously supplied a helpful glossary), readers will love this book!

--Leah, S., Student

Gamer Girl

by Mari Mancusi

Maddy Starr is the new girl in school. Since her parents' divorce, moving to a new town, and leaving all her old friends behind, she feels like an outcast more than ever. She dresses different than the other suburban kids at her school and loves to read and draw Manga. All of this has earned her the nickname,"Freak Girl" and constant torment from the clique of "Haters" at school. Maddy's only escape is into her favorite online game "Fields of Fantasy" where she has developed an alter-ego known as Allora. Gaining the strength to finally make friends at school by starting a Manga club, she feels like things are beginning to improve. Then the in-crowd "Haters” strike again, and Maddy must face her real-life fears and enemies once and for all.

--Philip S., Student

Genius Squad

by Catherine Jinks

In this sequel to "Evil Genius," we find 15 year-old Cadel Piggott trying to survive as a protected witness in the Axis Institute investigations while avoiding life-threatening dangers from his imprisoned evil father. Along with his best friend, he joins a group of teenage computer hackers recruited to take down a rotten corporation and finally puts his evil genius training to good use. Full of twists and turns, cyber-espionage and the author's use of great detail, the reader will stay on the edge of their seat!

--Nick C., Student

The Supernaturalist

by Eoin Colfer

Set in a futuristic world where making money is everthing and people are treated as marketing test objects, orphan Cosmo Hill knows that he is living on borrowed time. After an attempt to escape from his orphanage, he is rescued by a group who call themselves the Supernaturalists. They have dedicated their lives to destroying Parasites which feed on the essence of the living. Cosmo joins the group in their attempt to destroy the creatures.

In this book, Colfer does a great job of providing an exciting read with enough twists and turns to keep the reader surprised - but never confused. The author is never afraid to take risks in his novels and in this one he succeeds at good characterization and fun plot.

-- Zack Varvel, Faculty

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher

High school senior, Clay Jensen, comes home one day to find a package filled with audiotapes and a map. The tapes contain stories from Hannah Baker, a girl Clay adored from afar and who recently committed suicide. In the tapes Hannah provides 13 reasons why she committed suicide. Among the reasons she describes how her reputation was questioned, her parents were distracted by financial problems, her friends used her, and when she reached out for help, no one stepped forward. Finally, slights and misunderstandings snowballed until she could no longer cope. As Clay listens to her stories and visits the locations she describes, he reflects on how he might have been able to save Hannah. The author does a great job of explaining what it is like to be new in town, instantly gain popularity, but suffer through some tough teen-age problems. In the end, Hannah's final reason for her death may shock you.

--Jacob W., Student

Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss

by Richelle Mead

This third book in the Vampire Academy series takes us back to St. Vladimir's Academy where Rose Hathaway is close to graduation. In these final stages of training, she is beginning to have terrible headaches, flashbacks, and a feeling that something is very wrong. As she struggles to keep her best friend Lissa, safe, her secret but forbidden love, Dimitri, is mysteriously taken. Soon she must choose between saving her best friends life and loosing her true love forever! With a twist ending that challenges Rose's inner strength, this book is full of action, drama, and romance!

--Kathleen M., Student