The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos

This is one of the best YA books I have read this year. I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed it all the way through. It is the much-longer-than-250-word college essay of a boy named Harry, who in his own words is "ugly and shy and my face, head, and neck are covered with hideous scars." Harry's disfigurement (due to a childhood lightning strike) causes him a lot of social difficulties, but once he starts high school he makes a friend and they start a band. This is the story of the Scar Boys and how they navigate the difficult journey toward adulthood. It's also the story of how four teenagers try to stay friends even as they start to go separate ways. The unequal nature of Harry and John's friendship was the part that really seemed real to me and made this rise above the level of a book about guys in a band. I loved the writing and the characters and even the descriptions of a band on a road trip. Recommended for high school readers (lots of "adult" language).

Phoenix Island by John Dixon

When a high school boy tells me he read a great book, I always want to read it for myself. The kid who told me about this one has never steered me wrong, so I grabbed it right away. He was right. This book was violent and horrifying and perfect for readers who like action and adventure, with a touch of science fiction thrown in. It's about a Carl Freeman, a 16-year-old who is sentenced to a military-style boot camp for teenagers who have broken the law. Carl's problem is his temper. When he sees a bully in action he fights back, and even though he is usually protecting someone helpless, he causes a lot of damage. Carl is also an orphan, so when he is sent to Phoenix Island, he has no family to wonder where he went. What he finds on Phoenix Island is a cruel, physically violent book camp where kids are bullied, tortured, and maybe even killed. Carl, a champion boxer, eventually fights back but he is up against a powerful system that goes far beyond Phoenix Island. Be warned—this book has numerous graphically violent fight scenes so it's recommended for 9th grade-up.

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Smile by Raina Telgemeier is well-known to tween girls as a fantastic graphic novel aimed at them. It's the story of the author's horrible accident that damaged her teeth while in sixth grade. Sisters is the companion book to Smile, and it's also autobiographical. Raina longed for a little sister until she actually got one. When Amara is born nothing is quite like she thought it would be. In this story, the family is heading from California to Colorado on a big road trip and Raina and Amara aren't getting along. The girls worry about their parents relationship, deal with a not-so-fun family reunion, and find a big surprise in their mom's VW van. Anyone with siblings will recognize how true-to-life this story is. It's a quick, easy read that will be loved by fans of Raina Telgemeier's other books.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

This charming graphic novel will be loved by a wide range of readers. Although the characters are all rabbits, it's the true story of the author's girlhood and she dealt with sudden hearing loss at age four. Cece has all the insecurities and endearing hopefulness of any little girl, but her life is made much more complicated by the big hearing aid box that she must wear around her neck while at school. She spend one year in a special kindergarten class where she learns to read lips, but after that she is in public schools. Although her box sets her apart, she sometimes sees it as giving her super hearing and she fantasizes that she is a fearless superhero called "El Deafo." She longs for a true friend, and finds several friends as the book goes on. One tries to manipulate her, one makes a big deal out of her hearing loss (always talking slowly and loudly), and one shies away from her out of guilt. There are small moments that made me really empathize with kids with hearing issues, especially the time when, at a slumber party, Cece is shut out of the conversation because the girls turn out the lights. My 9-year-old son loved this book, and I suspect kids from 2nd through 8th grades will enjoy it on many levels. Anyone who grew up in the 1970s will also recognize their childhood in Cece's story. I recently met Cece Bell for the first time at the Decatur Book Festival. We went to the College of William & Mary together, although we never knew each other there. She is the author/illustrator of a series of Sock Monkey monkey picture books which I love, and her husband is Tom Angleberger, author of the Origami Yoda books.

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Imagine all the things you would learn if you could hear the thoughts of everyone around you. Would you want to know what your friends think of you or what your parents are really up to? That's what happens to a group of New York City high school students after their homeroom gets flu shots. Due to a tainted batch of vaccine, everyone in the class who got the shot develops ESP, and they must decide what to do. Should they call the CDC and get medical intervention, or should they see what it's like to hear everyone's thoughts around them? This book is unique in that it is narrated by the whole group, because "when you're a group that can hear each other's thoughts, the line between I and We gets kind of blurry." Some enjoy the ESP and take advantage of doing better on tests and finding out who is interested in whom. Others hear things they don't want to hear and it changes their lives completely. At times it was a little tough to keep track of so many characters, but overall this was a fun book and recommended for 8th-up.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Lia is a princess who is not happy about her upcoming arranged marriage that will cement relations between two contentious kingdoms. She runs away on her wedding day, and along with her ladies maid, hides herself in a small town where she works as a serving girl at a tavern. When two young men show up at the tavern she has no idea that one is the jilted prince and the other is an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, as none of the three know who the others are, and both men become attracted to the down-to-earth princess in disguise. Lia never had "the gift" that first daughters are said to possess, but when one man kidnaps her and the other gives chase, her gift begins to surface. This is an intriguing start to a new series (The Remnant Chronicles) and the best part of the story is how the author deceives the readers. Fans of fantasy series (and love triangles) will enjoy this book. Recommended for 8th grade-up.

Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen

Malley is a teenage girl who is headed to boarding school because of her wild ways. In typical fashion, she avoids boarding school by running off with a guy she meets on the Internet. Her cousin Richard, also her best friend, is getting phone calls from her and he knows she is in trouble. The problem is, he has no idea how to find her. Fortunately, Richard meets Skink, a quirky old man who used to be the governor of Florida but now is burying himself in turtle nesting grounds and surprising would-be egg thieves. One-eyed Skink decides that he can find Malley, and he brings Richard along for the ride. Of course, since it's Carl Hiaasen and it's set in Florida, there are alligators involved. This book is being billed as Hiaasen's first book for young adults. I would say it's a great read for 7th grade on up. There is a lot of humor and action, and the readers who grew up on Hiassen's books for younger readers (Flush, Hoot, Scat and Chomp) will love Skink No Surrender.