Torn by David Massey

This is an interesting story and a welcome departure from all the dystopian YA books being published recently. It's the story of Elinor, a young British medic who is sent to a war zone in Afghanistan for her first military assignment. She immediately is placed on life-threatening patrols where at any moment her squad could be killed by insurgent explosive devices. She also very quickly is drawn into a mystery—why are Afghani children fighting against the British troops as well as the Taliban, and who is the mysterious girl with green eyes who appears whenever someone is in mortal danger? American Navy SEALS join the British troops and together they go deep into Afghanistan on a mission to find hidden weapons, investigate the warring children, and find a missing child. I liked Ellie and her British comrades and having a glimpse into the war in Afghanistan. The plot (and the romance) may have been a bit contrived, but it's a book that held my interest all the way through and I think some teens (8th grade and up) will enjoy.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

I'm sure this is going to be the hot book of the school year among 7th-12th graders. There are many dystopian novels coming out these days, and this one stands out. People my age remember the movie ET, when a cute little alien ended up stranded on earth. This alien invasion is nothing like that. The Others have swiftly wiped out most of the earth's human population without ever landing on earth or being seen. In the third wave most people died of an ebola-like disease, but sixteen-year-old Cassie and her father and brother survived. Now after the 4th wave, Cassie is on her own and she is convinced that it's the only way to survive. She doesn't choose companionship, but after being shot in the leg she is rescued by a young man named Evan. She's not sure whether to trust him or not, and she is determined to get well enough to set off toward the military compound that houses her younger brother, Sammy. There's lots of action, violence, and constant uncertainty about who is good and who is bad. This one keeps you on the edge of your seat. I definitely rank it up there with the two biggies of dystopian YA fiction, The Hunger Games and Divergent.

Discovering Wes Moore by Wes Moore

This autobiography of a man named Wes Moore has an interesting twist. While it is mainly the story of the author's life and the circumstances that led him from a life on the streets to a successful military career and a Rhodes scholarship, it is also the story of another man named Wes Moore who grew up under similar circumstances but ended up imprisoned. The author's story is compelling by itself—he lost his father at age three and his mother struggled and sacrificed to keep him on the right track. The other Wes Moore's story gets less time in the book—he lived in the same Baltimore neighborhood, but fathered several children at a young age, got into drugs and crime, and was arrested for his part in the murder of a police officer. The two Wes Moores have become friends and the author's point is to show how fine the line is between their two lives. He credits many people with watching out for him, caring about his future, and holding up high expectations for his behavior and education. This is the young people's version of the same story by the same author. Unfortunately, it felt too simplified to me. While I like the story I think that even middle or high school kids would be able to handle more depth and complexity. However, this may appeal to kids who will see themselves in the two Wes Moores. I think it would be best received by middle schoolers—and it would certainly be a good choice for a biography assignment.

Far, Far Away by Tom McNeal

The best part of this fairy tale-ish book is that the narrator is the long-dead ghost of Jacob Grimm. He is wandering the world trying to finish some unknown task. He has latched onto the only human he has ever found that can hear his voice—a boy named Jeremy Johnson Johnson. Jeremy's mother, long gone now, left him with a love of fairy tales. Jeremy's grandfather, now deceased, left him with a small bookstore that makes no money. Jeremy's father lays in bed all day watching TV. At times it seems that the ghost of Jacob Grimm is Jeremy's best friend. He even helps Jeremy try to earn some money on a local game show. Things change when a wild-haired girl named Ginger includes him in her schemes and befriends him. Unfortunately she leads him into trouble with the town baker who becomes an integral part of the story. What happens next is dark and disturbing and very much like a Grimm Fairy Tale. This book is intelligent, haunting, and unique. I would recommend it to readers from 7th grade through adults, especially those who like variations on fairy tales.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

This is a book for kids who like puzzles and games. It's also clearly a book for those who love libraries and the Dewey decimal system. Alexandriaville has a brand new and mysterious public library designed by the world's premiere game maker, and a group of kids is selected to spend the night there. What they don't realize is that they are part of an elaborate puzzle, and the real trick will be figuring out how to escape from the library. The main character is Kyle and readers will be rooting for him and his team the whole way through. There are obvious similarities to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but in this book the kids are solving puzzles and following clues that the reader can join in with. It's a little hard to keep track of all the kids and sometimes the dialogue between them is a little stilted, but the puzzles are good and my third grader was hanging on every word as we read this one aloud. Luigi Lemoncello and the head librarian mention many, many children's books and it would be great fun to read this to a class of kids and introduce them to all the books and authors that are mentioned, sometimes overtly and sometimes subtly. This is recommended for 3rd-6th graders and all children's librarians.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Conor's mother is dying from cancer and he is having a recurring nightmare every night. A nightmare that he can't tell anyone about. But one night after midnight a monster shows up. It originates from the yew tree behind his house, but this monster is able to walk. It's also able to talk and tell stories and it demands the truth. Conor thinks it can't be real but how else could he explain the leaves of the yew tree strewn about his floor in the morning and the destruction that the monster can cause? Conor's grandma is called in to take care of him when his mother is hospitalized. His estranged father also comes to visit from America. But Conor is essentially alone with his fear about the bleak future of his mother. It doesn't help that he is bullied at school and at odds with his former best friend. Patrick Ness is a fabulous writer and in his hands this story is compelling, creepy, and so, so emotionally true. Perhaps because I lost my mother to cancer I especially relate to Conor's emotional journey. I'm not going to lie to you, the end of this book will break your heart. Recommended for older middle school readers through adults.

Ship Out of Luck by Neal Shusterman

I am a huge Neal Shusterman fan and I especially love his books about Antsy Bonano (The Schwa Was Here and Antsy Does Time). So of course I read this the minute I saw it at The Little Shop of Stories. It did not disappoint. Antsy Bonano is a teenage boy with a fantastic first-person voice. He's awkward, hilarious, and usually good-hearted. He always manages to turn believably introspective (without being preachy), which makes his stories more substantive than they appear at first glance. This time Mr. Crawley takes Antsy's family on a luxury cruise and Antsy meets up with a cute stowaway who involves him in a majorly illegal scheme to help some people in need. Antsy doesn't intend to become an international criminal and YouTube sensation, but it happens. His friends Lexie and Howie are also there, and having some life-changing experiences of their own that all come together in the end. It's not necessary to read the other Antsy books (but I highly highly recommend reading Antsy Does Time because it is such a fantastic read). Ship Out of Luck is a thoroughly enjoyable and recommended to 7th-10th graders.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

I have to admit that I tend to like sweet romance novels, and this one totally satisfied my summer romance needs. It's your basic romantic comedy for teenagers. The young couple "meets cute" via an accidental e-mail about feeding a pet pig. They connect and continue to e-mail each other for several months, never even asking each other's names. Graham happens to be a 17-year-old Hollywood superstar and Ellie is a girl with a secret who lives in the "middle-of-nowhere" Maine. Graham manages to discover the name of the town where Ellie lives and maneuvers to make it his next movie location. He shows up in the town and goes right to the ice cream shop where he knows his mysterious friend works, hoping to finally meet her. From there you will have to read their story. Definitely fluffy and fun–and totally appropriate for middle and high school readers.

Athlete vs. Mathlete by W.C. Mack

This is the story of Evan and Russell, fraternal twins who never had much in common. Evan is a basketball player and Russell is a smart, nerdy guy on school's academic team. But when the new basketball coach asks Russell to try out for the team (only because he's really tall), the brothers come into competition with each other. This is a quick, easy-to-read sports story that will appeal to 3rd-6th grade boys. It's fast-moving and full of dialogue. As an adult reader I thought it was a little trite, but younger boys will love it (my own 8-year-old couldn't wait to finish it and will be reading the sequel).

My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt

This spare, sometimes cryptic book tells the story of a girl named Angel who is a victim of human trafficking. A man named Call befriends her, says he loves her, gives her cocaine, and then forces her into a life of prostitution. Angel's only friend, Serena, disappears and she is on her own. Writing down her story in her "book of life" is the one thing that keeps her alive. But then Call brings in a little girl named Melli and Angel  finds it in herself to try to protect Melli from the life she is living. This book is well-written and poetic, but is a tough story to read. It's haunting and sad and gives you a glimpse into the harsh reality of girls who are trafficked. Recommended for high school readers.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

There's a quote on the back of this book from John Green (author of The Fault in Our Stars and other great YA books) that sums it up. "Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it's like to be young and in love with a book." I read a lot of books for kids and teens, and I often find myself mildly interested (or sometimes not interested at all). That was not the case with Eleanor & Park. From the very beginning I was drawn into their interesting, intelligent, and unlikely romance. I cared about both of these misfit characters and I loved how their relationship slowly built up bus ride by bus ride. This book is all about the characters and those small details that are so important when you are young and in love. I also liked the time period of this book (the 1980s) and that these characters weren't the popular kids. If you want to curl up with a romance this is the book to read. Definitely for high school, though!

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

This is a novel of self-discovery, travel, and romance. Allyson just graduated from high school and goes on a trip to Europe before starting college. But she doesn't have a great time, mainly due to the fact that she's not much of a risk taker. However, on the last day of the tour she skips a planned activity, goes to an outdoor Shakespeare play, and meets a Dutch actor who later invites her to spend a day in Paris with him. In a whirlwind day a romance blossoms, but when Willem disappears Allyson is left with many questions and self-doubts. She returns to the U.S.A. and starts college, but she falls into depression and a longing to be the person she was on that one day in Paris. It's really a story about breaking free from the past and becoming the person you want to be with European cities as a backdrop. I love Gayle Forman's books and this is another gem. Recommended for high school readers (not middle schoolers!)

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

This powerful graphic novel about well-known serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is completely unique. The author was an acquaintance of Dahmer in high school. When the news broke of his horrific crimes, Backderf was haunted by his memories of Dahmer's strange behavior and mascot-like status among Backderf's friends. Over the years, he wrote up his memories in graphic form, self-publishing a brief early version several years ago. This complete version is polished, mesmerizing, and based on a lot of research. You meet the strange, alienated Dahmer who imitates his mother's effeminate interior decorator and pretends to have frequent seizures. You also meet Backderf and his friends, who are fascinated by Dahmer, but also realize that there is something truly strange about him. They offer Dahmer some semblance of friendship, but Dahmer never really breaks into their group because of his underlying strangeness. The story is believable, fascinating, and will be of high interest to teenagers who might just think about their own acquaintances and who might be lurking among them. Highly recommended for high school readers.

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

Words in the Dust transports the reader to a village in Afghanistan and into the life of a girl born with a cleft palate. Zulaikha does not have an easy life with a stepmother who doesn't care much for her and brothers to take care of. She is not allowed to go to school and constantly told that she will never marry because of her facial deformity. When American soldiers see her and offer to repair her cleft palate she sees it as her chance to be "normal." The author, an American soldier who served in Afghanistan, captures the heartbreaks of Zulaikha and her sister, who goes through with an arranged marriage with some unhappy consequences. It's more than a story about a girl getting an operation—it's about a girl awakening to the possibilities that an education might bring her. I enjoyed the book a lot, and the middle school kids who read it this year loved it. For most, it was their first exposure to a culture very different from their own and they enjoyed the story and learned from it as well. Highly recommended for middle schoolers.

Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator

This is the first book in the Gilda Joyce mystery series. In it we meet Gilda, a precocious eighth grader who is honing her skills as a psychic investigator. She loves reading about communicating with spirits and she longs to find a ghost she can talk to directly. When she successfully invites herself to a long-lost relative's San Francisco mansion, she discovers that the ghost of a relative who jumped to her death from a tower may be haunting the house and appearing to a girl named Juliet who lives there with her father. Gilda and Juliet investigate with seances and a ouija board, and with the help of some mysterious dreams they solve the mystery. These books are breezy and fun, and as a long-time fan of Harriet the Spy I appreciate the connections between Harriet and Gilda Joyce. Recommended for middle school girls.