The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Lina and Doon are assigned to their jobs at age 12. Hopefully they can figure out how to fix the lights of Ember before the entire city goes dark.

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Donald Zinkoff is a bit weird. While celebrated in the younger years, he learns as he grows older that being different is viewed as a burden.

The Sister’s Grimm:The Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm’s lives are more complicated than most. Their parents abandoned them. When they get sent to live with a grandmother they believed was dead things get even more strange.

Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Martha finds out that Olive has a lot in common with her. They would have probably even been friends if a tragic accident didn’t take Olive’s life. A summer with Martha’s grandmother will help her figure out who Martha wants to be.

Pictures of Hollis Wood by Patricia Reilly Giff

Hollis Wood does not have a family. The closest thing she had to family she left.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl knows exactly who she is. Leo likes who she is, until others don’t and makes her conform.

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman

Can a vacant lot be turned into a beautiful garden? Each community member shares his/her contribution to the garden.

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Halley’s Senior year takes an unexpected turn with her best friend pregnant. The father is dead and Hally finds herself interested in his best friend.

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

Rob, charismatic cool leader of his class attempts to turn Simon Glass from a geek to a god. Who would guess that simple act would result in such violence?

From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by e.l. konigsburg

Claudia and her brother run away- to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Solving a mystery in the museum will keep them busy!

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Steve Harmon is on trial for murder. In order to convince the jury that he is innocent, he must first believe it himself.

The Best Poems Ever Edited by Edric S. Mesmer

45 poems from poetry’s greatest voices.

Mr. Was by Pete Hautman

When Jack’s grandfather tries to strangle him, Jack knows there is something isn’t right. With his dad beating his mom and their new move to Bogg’s End, Jack knows that he has to run somewhere.

Beginner’s Luck by Laura Pedersen

Hallie can’t stay in high school or with her large family. Neither seem right. When a job opens up for a yard person, Hallie takes it not knowing the eccentric people she would meet.

The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Patterson

Angel and her little brother have a life not many wish for. Dad is in jail. Mom left. Great grandma is not as inviting as she wished. The new stranger and his knowledge of the stars is giving her back some hope.

The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman

Is the Schwa really invisable? If not what happened to his mom and will the same happen to him?

True Believer Virginia Euwer Wolff

The second in the Make Lemonade Trilogy. La Vaughn and her mother both have new love interests. Her friends have joined a religion she doesn’t believe in.

Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

A 14 year girl deals with being 14, and everything that comes with it!

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates

When the police come for Big Mouth an unlikely friend, Ugly Girl steps up to help. Can they actually become friends though?

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Tyrone’s English class is learning that poetry is cooler than it initally sounds. Each classmate learns as much about him/herself as they do about each other.