Beating Heart by A. M. Jenkins

"I never felt the knots
till they
unraveled

never saw the ties
till they
dropped loose

never knew that I was
clinging to debris
in someone else's wake."

In the wake of her divorce, Mom quits her job to pursue her dream of becoming a writer and moves 17-year-old Evan and his little sister Libby into her dream house. The house is old, dilapidated, and long empty. Some pricey renovation begins to return the house to a livable state, but it's original occupant is still attached to the past. Soon the lives and feelings of Evan and a long-dead Victorian ghost become intertwined. This sensual novella is written both in poetry prose.

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SLJ recommends grades 9 & 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.

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SLJ recommends grades 7-9.

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.