Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

shiverIt’s cold in Mercy Falls, Minnesota. Snow is on the ground. Grace lays in bed and listens to the wolves howl outside her bedroom window. She can hear “her” wolf; the one with the golden eyes. He often stares at her from the edge of the woods. Sam longs to meet Grace but such contact is forbidden. When a wolf attack brings out hunters that threatens her pack, Grace springs into action to save them and rules are broken. Learn more about the author at http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/.

Poison by Chris Wooding

poisonPoison lives in the village of Gull in the heart of the Black Marsh with her father, step-mother and baby sister, Azalea. When the Scarecrow steals Azalea on Soulswatch Eve and leaves a changeling in her place, Poison consults Fleet, a wise old man in the village, about leaving the village and traveling to the Realm of the Phaeries to bring her sister back. Fleet gives her infromation and finds her a ride out of Gull with Bram, the wraith-cather. And so their journey begins, once upon a time.

Poison is not your average fairy tale. It is a much darker. If you like the Harry Potter series or books by Cornelia Funke, you might want to give Chris Wooding’s books a try.

California Blue by David Klass

california blueJohn Rodgers loves to run. On one of his runs through the redwood forest of his small California town, John notices a beautiful blue butterfly. Later in Biology class, John discovers that the butterfly is an endangered species. The butterfly’s habitat is threatened by the local logging industry. This pits environmentalists against the locals, and John is right in the middle.

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

flippedJulianna has had a “crush” on Bryce ever since she saw him when she was seven and they were in second grade. But Bryce, being a typical second-grade boy, would have nothing to do with Julianna. Bryce and Juilianna are now in eighth grade. Bryce’s grandfather has moved in with the family and he has noticed what a wonderful young lady Julianna is. Bryce notices that Julianna no longer follows him around like a puppy dog any more. She’s moved on to other interests. Bryce finds himself thinking quite a bit about Julianna. Bryce has fallen in love with Julianna and the roles have flipped!

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

GracelingKatsa has a grace as is evident in her eyes. Each of her eyes has a different color. Katsa has been graced with superior fighting skills and her Uncle Randa uses Kasta as his enforcer in the kindgom of Middluns (one of the seven kingdoms.) Working as King Randa’s enforcer bothers Katsa to her very core, so she and her team of four friends have formed an underground network called The Council that fights for the underdog throughout the Seven Kingdoms. On a secret mission for the Council, Katsa and her team rescue an elderly Lienid who has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner in King Murgon of Sunder’s dungeon. It is during this rescue, Katsa battles a graced Lienid whose skills are close to her own. This encounter spins Katsa’s life in a different direction. Read Graceling to follow Katsa’s amazing journey.

The Circle of Blood by Alane Ferguson

The Circle of BloodThis is Alane Ferguson’s third forensic mystery featuring Cameryn Mahoney. Cameryn is an assistant county coroner in Silverton, Colorado working for her father. Cameryn plans to be a forensic scientist when she graduates from high school. Cameryn and her mother, who has just recently returned to Silverton after a long absence, are getting to know one another and working on building a relationship when a mysterious hitch-hiker is found dead. The last person to see the hitch-hiker alive was Cameryn’s mom, Hannah, who gave the young lady a lift. As evidence is uncovered, Cameryn must decide whether to share information that may incriminate her mother.

The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas

The Possibilities of SainthoodAntonia Lucia Labella wants to be a saint, a living official saint! She also wants to receive her first kiss. Antonia knows all about saints and frequently writes the Vatican suggesting new patron saints and “humbly” nominates herself to take on the job. She constantly prays to saints to intercede on her behalf to make her first kiss a reality with one handsome baseball player from Bishop Francis, Andy Rotellini. Be careful what you wish for!

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The Last OlympianBook Five of Percy Jackson and The Olympians series finds Percy and his friends taking on Krono’s army in New York City. Percy and the other young demigods must protect Mount Olympus while the other Olympian gods battle Typhon, another one of Krono’s monsters on the loose. Will the prophecy come true? Read the last book of the series to find out Percy’s fate.
The Lightning Thief (Book One) movie is scheduled for release in February 2010. Read the series before the movie comes out because you know the books is always better than the movie. Check the internet for more information on the movie.

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu

shadow thievesCharlotte’s cousin Zachary is coming from “across the pond” to live with her family. Zee, as he is called, is an outgoing, talented soccer player. He fits right into life at her high school. He fits in better than Charlotte. But the students are getting sick at school. Zee shares that it happened at his school in London and Charlotte begins to wonder what is going on. When two strange looking men attack Charlotte and Zee, Mr. Metos, their English teacher, intervenes. Charlotte and Zee share their suspicions with Mr. Metos. Mr. Metos warns them of the shadow thieves and confirms their suspicions. Soon Charlotte and Zee find themselves swept up in a plot to overthrow Hades in the Underworld.

If you enjoy Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympian series, you should find The Cronus Chronicles entertaining as well.

Vampirates: Blood Captain by Jason Somper

VampiratesTwins, Connor and Grace Tempest, continue their adventures in the third book of the Vampirates series, Blood Captain. Grace, along with the Captain and other members of The Nocturne, takes blinded Lorcan to the Santuary in hope of a cure for his failing health. While at the Santuary, Grace meets interesting characters, learns more about her healing abilities and struggles with her place in the vampirate world. Meanwhile, Connor aboard the pirate ship, The Diablo, prepares for an exciting mission that will test his commitment to his life as a pirate. Twists and surprises will keep pages turning in this thrilling adventure.