Being Dead by Vivian Vande Velde

"My brother, Kevin, may or may not have come back from the dead for any one of several contradictory reasons, depending on which one of my relatives you assume is most reasonable. Personally, I wouldn't consider any of us particularly reliable."

Being Dead is a collection of nine short stories dealing with, well, being dead. All nine are ghost tales...several of them chilling, several sad, several are told from an unique point of view. Brenda's getting phone calls from a disconnected phone line. Emily's having an unearthly romance. And Marjorie won't stop dancing. Fans of spooky tales will love, love, LOVE this collection!

Learn more at HCL, Barnes and Noble, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 7 & up.

Girl, 15, Charming but Insane by Sue Limb

"Whizzer, however, pounced. He put his arm round her and stuck his tongue down her throat. Jess was disgusted. He tasted of cigarettes. And Ben might be watching from somewhere nearby. She struggled slightly. It was hard to make a polite excuse while a guy's tongue was down your throat. Jane Austen's heroines didn't have to put up with this kind of thing."

It's a story as old as time...or at least as old as Pride and Prejudice. Girl meets boy. Girl obsesses about boy. Girl makes complete silly git out of self in front of said boy. Girl never notices the whole time that the right boy has been waiting patiently the whole time. And so it is with Jess. She's 15, fixated, and funneeeeee! In addition to the boy problems, Jess' Grandmother has moved into her bedroom, her mum's gone mad, and then there was the minestrone soup incident. Jess is the Bridget Jones of her generation.

When you finish with this book, go on to read Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture and Girl Going on 17, Pants on Fire.

Learn more at HCL, Barnes and Noble, and here.

SLJ recommeds grade 7 to 10.

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

"At 7:46, Marv gets out of the car and stands there. "Good luck" I say. God, I can hear his heart from inside the cab. It's a wonder it isn't bludgeoning the poor guy to death. He stands there. Three minutes. He crosses the road. Two attempts. The yard is different. First go--a surprise."

Ed Kennedy is the epitome of average--a classic example of a slacker--until the day of the bank robbery. After becoming an unwitting hometown hero that day, Ed begins receiving cryptic "messages" that he must deliver. Although the messages are all meant for other people, each one has an effect on our hero. Set in Australia, I am the Messenger is a story about change told with humor and truth.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 9 & up.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

"My mother once explained to me why she married my father. 'Of all the Ph.D. students at the university, he had the thickest glasses,' she said."

Ah, poor Jin Wang! As the American born son of Chinese parents, life in the thick of a suburban middle school is not always easy. He wants cooler friends. He wants the attention of a pretty girl. And he wants to be accepted. But, then again, who doesn't? Jin Lan's story overlaps and intertwines with a tradational Monkey King tale and with the story of hopelessly over-stereotyped cousin Chin
Kee. This graphic novel is an uncomfortably amusing reflection of adolesence AND a cautionary tale for those that would hide from their true selves.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 7 & up.

Startled by his Furry Shorts by Louise Rennison

"But then she realized I was really upset and she came over and put her arms around me. That made me blub like billio. I told her everything. I said, 'He, I (gulp snort), when he came he said...then I...to the woods, snooged but I didn't fall of the log, then he said no and I went to visit my forest friends, which I don't have.' "

Another exciting installment from the diaries of Georgia Nicholson, consumer of lippy, wearer of strange hats, chaser of Stiff Dylans, keeper of mad highland cats, and all-around offbeat British teen. Laugh at her wild dancing! Cry for her heartbreak! And thrill to her troubles at Stalag-14! Really...she's bright, she's funny, and she's high maintenance. If you haven't met her already, start with Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging and work your way towards Startled by His Furry Shorts.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 7-9.

Midnighters Volume 3: Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld

"Then it struck, washing through the gymnasium, sweeping away the puny energies of the pep rally, obliterating the surrounding mind noise of Bixby.... She opened her eyes and saw what had happened. The blue light, the frozen bodies, a leaping cheerleader hovering suspended in the air. The whole world struck by...silence."

Set in Bixby, Oklahoma, a small band of teenagers can experience an extra hour in each day. At exactly midnight time stops for the "daylighters". But for the "midnighters" each night offers a romp in a frozen world of blue light. However, the midnighters aren't alone in the blue time. Each night in the hour between 12:00 and 12:01 they are stalked by darklings--shape shifting carnivores who are as old as time. And if that weren't enough, by day our heroes must brave high school! One part sci-fi, one part horror, and one part teenage drama, this series will appeal to Buffy fans...and, undoubtedly, to fans of Westerfeld's other novels.

Blue Moon is the third installment in Westerfeld's Midnighter's series. Begin with the Secret Hour and move on to Touching Darkness if you want to read them in order.

Learn more at HCL, Barnes & Nobel, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 6 and up.

The End by Lemony Snicket

"'The end' is a phrase which refers to the completion of a story, or the final moment of some accomplishment, such as a secret errand, or a great deal of research, and indeed this thirteenth volume marks the completion of my investigation into the Beaudelaire case, which required much research, a great many secret errands, and the accomplishments of a number of my comrades, from a trolley driver to a botanical hybridization expert, with many, many typewriter repairmen in between. But it cannot be said that The End contains the end of the Baudelaires' story, any more than The Bad Beginning contained its beginning."

This is the final, miserable installment in the saga of the unfortunate Baudelaire orphans. Fans, like me, are anxious to find out what becomes of our fearless heroes...and you won't be disappointed. This is a fitting end to a series of bizzare and unfortunated events.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 5-7.

The Beatrice Letters by Lemony Snicket

"The waiter agreed to bring this card with your drink. If you don't want to meet me, rip it in half when you are done with your root beer float, and I will leave and never try to contact you again."

Wait!!! Before you begin The End, peruse the Beatrice Letters. A series of actual correspondence between Mr. Snicket and the elusive Beatrice, this book contains important insights into the case of the Beaudelaire orphans. Not only is the information in the file critically important, but it is also presented in its original format: small calling cards, wrinkled notes, typewritten letters. (You kids do still know what a typewriter is, don't you?)

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 5 to 7.

Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

"The moolight through the window illuminated the rose-colored chair by the writing table, the brandy cupboard, the cushions, the clock. It shone as well on the grand piano, and, taking another step so as to get a closer look, I saw the hand, the severed hand, fingering the keys."

After having been orphaned by her mentally unstable mother, Judith travels from Ohio to South Carolina to move in with an Uncle. Her Uncle's hospitality comes with only one clause, Judith must not bring any green items with her. Forced to break that rule, Judith begins to hear scratching, to uncover horrible sights, and to encounter her cousin Charles' leers. Is Jade Green really haunting Judith, or is Judith slipping into madness just like her mother?

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor spins a tightly crafted, page-turning, supernatural tale. This period tale combines romance, mystery, and chills while it explores the nature of horror. Discover which is scarier, a disembodied hand or Cousin Charles!

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and the author's web site.

(SLJ recommends grades 5 through 8)

Pinned by Alfred C. Martino

"Always hoped one day I'd be really good," Bobby said. "And not just good; I'm talking about being one of the best in the state. All the days I've gone without eating. Filling cups with spit. Eating laxatives. Always feeling like throwing up. Always being thirsty. I figured one day it'd be worth it."

"Is it?"

Bobby is captain of his high school wrestling team. Ivan is captain of his. One wrestler is a natural, while the other has worked hard to become good. One wrestler lives in an expensive home in a wealthy neighborhood, the other in a blue collar town. One loves the girl next door, but is afraid to tell her. The other is involved with a young woman who doesn't meet his parent's approval.

Both are headed for the state championship.

Martino paints a personal portrait of two dedicated, passionate high school wrestlers then sets them up for the state championships. Wrestlers or other high school athletes may enjoy reading about their lives in this book. Newcomers to the sport will be discover the discipline, deprivation, and passion surrounding the sport.

Learn more at HCL and Barnes and Noble.

Subjects: Wrestling, Family Problems, Friendship, Competition, New Jersey, Young Adult Fiction.

(SLJ recommends grade 8 & up)

it's happy bunny: Life. Get One: and other words of wisdom and junk that will make you wise or something by Jim Benton

"So you want to get wise, do you? Well, you could read Confucius or Socrates. You could study Solomon or Plato. But only one form of wisdom truly has a lot of pictures of bunnies...."

Ahhh, bunny wisdom. Immerse yourself in thoughts such as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Unless, of course, they did unto you first, and now you have to totally open a can of "unto" on them." Learn whether the glass is really half empty or half full. Gather valuable life skills from "The Fable of the Excellent Bunny." And discover how to correctly judge people.

Shorter than the Tao of Pooh and more cynical than Chicken Soup for the Soul, fans of Jim Benton's sardonic "happy bunny" will relish this useful advice imparted by cute bunnies. But remember, "Any wisdom one gets from a bunny is probably not that hot. For your own safety, please do not take the advice of bunnies."

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and happy bunny books.

Subjects: happy bunny, Life.

Devil's Footsteps by E. E. Richardson

"One in fire, two in blood. Three in storm and four in flood. Five in anger, six in hate. Seven fear and evil eight. Nine in sorrow, ten in pain. Eleven death, twelve life again. Thriteen steps to the Dark Man's door. Won't be turning back no more."

Five years ago Bryan's brother Adam disappeared. They'd been tempting fate while testing the local legend of the Dark Man--reciting the old rhyme while stepping down a stone path. Bryan had been too chicken to finish the rhyme. He'd turned and run from that terrifying spot in the woods. Adam was never seen again. Since then, Bryan has been tortured by nightmares. He's been coping with the overwhelming abscence of his brother. And he's noticed things. Things like the huge number of children that go missing from his town each year. And the fact that no one seems to notice. In the company of two unlikely companions, Bryan finally begins to confront his fears and his past by unraveling the horrific secret behind the Dark Man and his rhyme.

E. E. Richardson's first novel is a page-turning, heart pounding, sleeping with the lights on, devilish delight!

Learn more at HCL and Amazon.

Subjects: Supernatural, Brothers, Missing Children, Horror Stories.

(SLJ recommends grades 6-9)

All Rivers Flow to the Sea by Alison McGhee

"Because Ivy and I had an accident. It was the end of the winter, dusk in Adirondacks, and we came around a curve. And then Ivy wasn't moving, and she wasn't answering, and was she breathing? Blood. My window was broken and I broke it more. I punched it with my jacket wrapped around my hand, punched and punched, and I crawled out and fell up. We were upside down? How had that happened? I ran."

Rose and Ivy were in a car accident. Ivy now lies in a vegetative state in a nursing home. Rose must cope with survivor's guilt, her mother's growing distance, and the fact that half of herself, her sister Ivy, won't ever return. Rose is still water, trapped behind a dam, and all she wants is to flow to the sea.

Alison McGhee lyrically, yet succinctly, tells the story of one girl's healing process.

(McGhee is the author of several novels for adults, several novels for teens, and one of my favorite picture books, "Countdown to Kindergarten".)

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

Subjects: Sisters, Traffic Accidents, First Love, Death, Adirondack Mountains (N.Y.)

(SLJ recommends this for 9 & up.)

Foretelling by Alice Hoffman

Rain is a child of sorrow, unwanted daughter of the Amazon Queen. Raised by the high priestess, Deborah, her aunt Cybelle the beekeeper, and her cousins Artesia and Artella the archers, Rain learns all of the secrets of her people and will be expected to use them someday as the queen of these warrior women. But strong as she is, she questions the absence of mercy, peace, and men in her tribe. When it come time for her to lead, will she follow the path set before her or her own instincts.


Hoffman spins a terse, dreamlike tale of a mythical people who may be either our past or our future.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

Subjects: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Amazons (mythical tribe), gender issues, parental approval, rape

(SLJ recommends this for for grades 6 & up.)

River Between Us by Richard Peck

At the dawn of the Civil War, a Mississippi steamboat brings a pair of strangers to Grand Tower Illinois--the mysterious and seductive Delphine Duval and her companion Calinda. They quickly become a controversial fixture in the Pruitt household. When Noah Pruitt can no longer resist the lure of battle, Mama sends her daughter, Tilly, and Delphine to bring him home. Secrets are revealed and tragedy falls.

Tilly's story, in itself, is a unique female perspective of the American Civil War and rural life. Delphine's secret adds an additional layer dealing with a little discussed aspect of American life. Tilly's entire recollection is bookended by a future visit to Grand Tower by the Pruitt grandchildren. What the oldest boy discovers about his family tree and his reaction to it provide a final layer for the reader to ponder. Peck's novel gets off to a slow start but quickly gains steam with the Delphine's arrival, coming, in time, to a thoughtful end.

A discussable bookclub choice.

Learn more at HCL and Amazon.

Subjects: Young Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Civil War, African Americans, Illinois, New Orleans, Death, Grandparents

(SLJ recommends this book for grades 7 & up)

Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin

In the last days of her high school career Jane is hit by a car and killed. All her life she had been unable to discern reality from illusion, becoming trapped in a confusing world of her own creation. Her younger, prettier, more likeable sister, Lily left behind and suffering survivor's guilt falls in love for the first time and finally begins to heal. Their story unfolds in alternating first-person chapters, culminating in a mildly supernatural confrontation.

The Lily portions of the book will appeal to chick-lit fans, while Jane's perspective is considerably darker and weirder.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

Subjects: Young Adult Fiction, Sibling Rivalry, Death, Ghosts, First Love, Grandparents

(SLJ recommends this book for grades 7 & up.)

Cat People by Michael Korda and Margaret Korda

What can I say? I laughed. I cried. It was better than "Cats"?

Michael and Margaret Korda celebrate the lives of Irving, Queenie, Chutney and many, many other cats. Each episode is an unusual adventure proving that, contrary to my husband's belief, each cat is a totally different and inherently lovable character. The occasional line drawings provide further insight into each cat and are a lively addition to the heartfelt text.

This is a charming, quiet, cat read especially when accompanied by tea, afghans, and kleenex.

Learn more at HCL and Amazon.

Subjects: Non-fiction, Cats

Minister's Daughter by Julie Hearn

Set in 1645 England, Nell is the village midwife's granddaughter. Grace and Patience are the daughters of the local puritan minister who is dedicated to wiping out the old ways...ways which Nell, her grandmother, and the villagers continue to practice. When Grace gets herself into trouble, witchcraft becomes the scapegoat, and it doesn't take much to guess who will be targeted.

Told from the perspectives of Nell, Patience, the piskies, and a third person narrator, the reader experiences the events of the story from several points of view. A heavy 17th century atmosphere is brightened with fantastical elements like faeries and piskies, while a silly fantasy is given weight by rich descriptions of life in the 17th century. In addition, this tale is filled with strong women forced into situations that test their strength--for the better and worse. Though parts of Hearn's tale feel contrived, overall it is an engrossing read filled with important questions about the nature of evil, respect for life and nature, and reaping what you sow.

This is an utterly discussable book that would make a great bookclub selection.

*A note on the audio book: Heather O'Neill, the reader adds even more life to an absorbing novel. Each character voice is subtly different, defining the different points of view from which the story is told and adding even more interest to already colorful characters without distracting from Hearn's written text.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here .

Subjects: Young Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Witches, England, Sibling Rivalry, Bookclub

(SLJ recommends this book for grades 7 & up)