Period Pieces: Stories for Girls selected by Erzsi Deak and Kristin Embry Litchman

Great collection of short stories about girls in different situations and different cultures dealing with getting their periods for the first time.

Ghosts of Boyfriends Past by Carly Alexander

Chick Lit

Main character is haunted by her past Christmas relationships as she tries to find love.

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

This takes place in the same school as Speak and has a passing reference to that protagonist.

The story focuses on Kate, the daughter of a minister, who is desperately trying to finish her senior year. As she deals with her boyfriend and worries about getting accepted to college, tragedy strikes her community and she is sucked in.

Well written and true to life.

The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

The latest in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Babe in Toyland by Eugenie Seifer Olson

Chick lit

The main character is an employee of a toy company in Philadelphia who falls in love with a local weather forecaster. When she decides to let him know, hilarity and hijinks ensue. Love is eventually found.

The Outsiders of 19 Schuyler Placeby E.L. Konigsburg

Another great novel by the author of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This one deals with being an outsider, both as a child and as an adult. After Margaret leaves her summer camp to stay with her eccentric uncles, she is sucked into a campaign to save the towers they have been creating from destruction.

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot

This light, amusing story is told through e-mails, phone messages and other correspondence. The main character works for the personnel department and is embroiled in a controversy over the firing of a beloved employee. Havoc and of course love ensues.

The V Club by Kate Brian

Four girl friends compete against each other to win a college scholarship where "purity" is one of the requirements. As they deal with the pressure of staying "pure", their friendships grow and mature.

Very cool look at high school students and "purity".