The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

Growing up in a family of PIs gives Izzy a different perspective on privacy than most people. There's also the problem of blurring the line between work and home, especially when you work with your parents and live above the office.

Highly Recommended

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

When DJ Schwenk agrees to train the quarterback for the rival high school's football team, she has no idea that it will end up changing her life.

Highly Recommended

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After by Patricia C. Wrede and Carolyn Stevermer

In this sequel to The Grand Tour, it's been 10 years since their honeymoon and now Kate and Cecy have growing families. Soon they and their families are embroiled in a magical mystery. A
magician working for the railroad has seemingly disappeared into thin air and they must find out what happened.

This time around we get letters from James and Thomas as well.

Highly Recommended

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Lucky cleans up after all the 12 step meetings in Hard Pan, she also eavesdrops on all of them. She becomes convinced that if she finds her "higher power" then all of her problems would be solved but what if she has to hit rock bottom first?


Recommended

Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky

When Dana Clarke gives birth to her first child, she and her husband are overjoyed. Soon, however, everyone is gossiping about them when it is revealed that their child has African-American features. Could they be from the father she never knew?


Recommended

Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan and Art by Niko Henrichon

A powerful graphic novel based on the true story of a pride of lions set free from the Baghdad zoo during the American bombing in 2003.


Highly Recommended

Diva by Alex Flinn

Last year Caitlin was dealing with her abusive ex-boyfriend but this year she's ready for something new. She's off to Miami High School for the Arts but does she have what it takes to be a diva?

Highly Recommended

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn

Nick is going through a hard time. His girlfriend Caitlin has dumped him and taken out a restraining order and now he has to go to anger management classes. How can he let Caitlin go when she's the best thing to ever happen to him and the only one who knows about his dad's temper?


Highly Recommended

Winning the City by Theodore Weesner

Dale Wheeler is all set to take his Detroit school's basketball team to the city championships until a rich dad kicks him off to make room for his sons.


Highly Recommended

Am I the Last Virgin?: Ten African American Reflections on Sex & Love ed. by Tara Roberts

A great collection of memoirs on a wide variety of sexual and coming-of-age issues. They will make you laugh and cry but you will feel stronger for it. Definitely a book that should be updated.


Highly Recommended

The Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits

Fifteen years after her supposedly faked abduction, Mary returns home for her mother's funeral only to be sucked back into the web of deceit.


Highly Recommended

Remember Me: a lively tour of the new American way of death by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

With humor and respect Mrs. Cullen explores the latest innovations in the funeral business and the people who choose them.


Highly Recommended

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Told in three alternating story lines: the story of the Monkey King, Jin Yang trying to adjust to life as one of a handful of Asians in a White school, and a sitcom: "Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee."


If you only read one graphic novel this year, make it this one.


Highly Recommended

SchoolGirls: young women, self-esteem and the confidence gap by Peggy Orenstein

Peggy Orenstein does spectacular job of examining the school and home cultures that contribute to low self-esteem in females during adolescence. In her book she follows girls at two different schools: one mostly White, middle-class and suburban, the other mostly African-American and Latino, working class and urban.

Highly Recommended

Nothing But The Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley

Patty Ho never thought being half-white and half-Chinese was anything special. Especially when it seemed like her older brother Abe had gotten all the non-gawky genes. Then she goes to math camp at Stanford and realizes how hot being hapa can be.


Highly Recommended

The Librarian by Larry Beinhart

A political thriller about a Republican attempt to steal the election from a female Democratic candidate. Unfortunately for them, there's a librarian on the case.


Highly Recommended

The Dewey Decimal System of Love by Josephine Carr

A celibate, spinster Librarian falls in love and solves a mystery.


Highly recommended

Girl Talk by Julianna Baggott

When Lissy Jablonski's father runs away with another woman the summer she turns 15, she couldn't realize how much her life would be changed.


Highly Recommended

Sin (Rush Hour Volume 1) edited by Michael Cart

Some of your favorite YA authors address the theme of sin in short stories, poetry, excerpts and more.


Highly Recommended

love is a mix tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield

Rob Sheffield celebrates the life and early death of his wife Renee through the mix tapes she left behind.


Highly Recommended