Paper Towns - by John Green

This is an amazing story, and it definitely earns its "Teen/Young-Adult" category label, but not for the same reason as many books in the genre.  This is the story of Quentin, a high-school senior who finally gets the chance to hang out with his dream girl, his next-door neighbor, the crazily popular, wild, and unattainable Margo, for one wild night.  From those after-dark adventures, the book follows a sort of mystery path as Quentin searches for what he can't quite find, but which he seems to have been chosen to search for.  I don't want to give anything away here, so will stop there.

It is a story of running away and other ridiculous teenage shenanigans, and is not an appropriate guide for the development of children's choices or character.  There are scenes of teen partying and allusions to more "adult" topics, but nothing too explicit here.  For any teen looking for a riveting story, this is a fantastic read, which is to be expected from this author.

We Were Liars - by E. Lockhart

This is not a book to be taken lightly.  It is a book for teens, and I would say age 12 would be a good time to read it.  That said, it was an amazing and surprising story that I could not put down.

It's all about four kids who grow up together during summer's at their families private island off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.  Rich kids, that's right.  Privileged trust-fund children of privileged trust fund mothers, and everybody is just about perfect.  They are, after all, the Sinclair family.

The only thing is, everything is not quite as perfect as it seems. The title is perfect, and hits you on different levels by the end of the book.  As you read, you begin to realize that characters are twisted in unexpected ways, and that they are all twisted together as well.  The story is told from a seventeen-year-old girl, Cadence, about her fifteen-year-old self one summer on the island, and what happened that summer remains a mystery to us, and to Cadence as well, until the very end of the book.  It is suspenseful, full of interesting bends, and a very rewarding read.

The "teen" rating reflects some thematic elements that elementary-age children just don't need to think about.  Grab a copy of this for the teen in your life, and let them know it will be one knockout of a story.

Legend - by Marie Lu

June is rich, her brother is a powerful and important soldier in the Republic's army, and her skills are remarkable.  Day is dirt-poor, on the run from the law, apparently homeless, but his skills equal June's. What brings these two teenage characters together is the stuff of legends, and the plot of this book, so I won't give it away.  I can tell you that the story takes place in an imagined future in the American west, that there is a good assortment of likable and believable characters, and that the action, including some rough fight scenes, is fantastic.

This is probably my favorite of this type of books: The teen dystopian/futuristic America drama/adventure series with a strong but flawed heroine/hero.  With Marie Lu's Legend, you've got the real deal.  June and Day are both fascinating characters, and to see what happens when their worlds spin together makes for an unforgettable story.

There are many middle grade/teen series out there, but this one has just as much action and suspense as the others, but none of the graphic love scenes.  It's a winner, trust me.  Keep your eye on Marie Lu!

Rogue - by Lynn Miller-Lachmann

What do you get when a teen girl with Asperger's syndrome, a bunch of BMX enthusiasts, and a neighborhood meth lab all come together in one little book?  A powerful, heart-breaking but hopeful story with plenty of twists and turns and an unexpected hero.

Kiara has a really hard time getting along with people, and the world often doesn't make sense to her.  She usually relies on Mr. Internet for help, but there are some questions he just can't answer, such as why her mom won't come home, and why she has Asperger's anyway.  Naming herself Rogue, after the X-Men mutant super-girl is a step toward finding her own power, and through Kiara's courage in hard times, she eventually does find out what makes her special.

This is a book about facing the hard times in life, and how to make it through them. It is about looking at your abilities, not your disabilities, and fighting for what you deserve.  It's an unusual story because it tackles some tough issues: disability, drugs, loyalty, and family trouble, but it does so with grace, and is a rewarding book.

The Hunt - by Andrew Fukuda

This is an absolutely original and stunning book!  There are vampires, but not the Twilight variety.  There is a futuristic America, but not like The Hunger Games or Divergent.  Best of all, there is amazing writing, a very tight plot, and as much suspense as I can handle. For TEENS, this is a new dystopian thriller to check out immediately.

Meet Gene: He is a human. The only problem is that he lives in a land of vampires.  They seem normal, but for their pale skin, extreme strength, razor-sharp canine teeth, lack of sweat or body odor, and the fact that they all eat raw meat and don't drink water.  All of his life, Gene's father has taught him the tricks for survival:  Whatever you do, don't draw attention to yourself!  Don't sweat, don't laugh, and don't fall in love.  It's hard enough to keep pushing away the beautiful girl who keeps catching his eye at school, but when he is chosen to participate in the historic Heper Hunt and taken away to a training institute, keeping his true identity secret becomes nearly impossible.  Just wait until you find out what the hunt is all about...

This book is fast-paced, brilliantly imagined and detailed, and very enjoyable.  If you like non-magicsci-fi/fantasty/alternate-future series, this is one of the best.

Divergent - by Veronica Roth

Don't compare this to The Hunger Games, first of all. This genre is bursting with good futuristic altered-American-reality books, and this one is fantastic.  Yes, it is a movie, but of course the book should be read first!

Divergent focuses on Tris, a girl who must choose, as everyone her age must, which of the four "factions" in their society they would like to join. It is most common to stay in your family's own faction, but switching is not unheard of. When Tris finds out during her screening test that she actually has the skill or inclination for three different factions, she learns that she is actually "divergent," a label which could get her killed!  She decides to leaver her straight-laced Abnegation faction for the thrill-seeking Dauntless, and through many hard times, she learns that she is, though small, a natural fighter.

Though Tris is enjoying her new freedom and faction, she soon learns that there is a plot afoot that could destroy everything, and it is up to her and a few trusted friends to save the day.  As family, friend, and faction are shaken, shocked, and turned against one another, Tris realizes that nothing is as it seems after all.  The adventures of Tris are incredible, exhilarating, and heart-wrenching, and you will not be able to put this book (or its two sequels) down!

This is really a TEEN book, because of the violence, love scenes, and more mature content.  That said, the fifth graders who have read it seem to have no problem with those parts...  Perhaps we parents and teachers worry too much?  Or perhaps children today have been exposed to more than is good for their young minds and are not surprised by things that should shock them.  I can't say, but I would recommend young (elementary-age) kiddos to get their parents' approval before reading this one.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children - by Ransom Riggs

This is an odd book.  Just like it is when I refer to Lemony Snicket's books, that is a real compliment.

Growing up, Jacob was always in awe of his grandfather's fantastic, unbelievable stories.  The tales grew harder to believe as Jacob grew older, but when his the older man passes away and leaves him a cryptic message, the 16-year-old ends up on a far-fetched adventure to uncover the truth of his grandfather's past.  In the wild of Wales, he discovers something quite unexpected, and the story goes from there.  I mean, it REALLY goes, well beyond the expected and into some funky stuff.

This story combines unusual historical photographs with a touch of the supernatural to produce one wild, amazing story.

Agent Colt Shore: Domino 29 - by Axel Avian

How does a teenage boy end up an international agent fighting to save the world from bad guys?  There are so many books with similar plots on the market now that I didn't expect anything original from this one.  That's where I was wrong.

First-time author Avian blew me away with his character, Colt Shore. This teen enjoys hanging out with his friends and doing normal stuff, but when a mysterious stranger, a slick Bond-like gentleman with a fancy car, shows up in his house one day and announces that they are leaving for Colt's new school, everything changes.  Of course it is a secret school for young members of an international organization that fights bad guys... but it's not for spies.  An "agent" is tasked with supporting the good guys rather than hunting down the baddies, and that's what Colt begins training to do.  A series of surprising events and revelations carry him into places he never expected to go, saving people he never expected to meet, and making choices he never wanted to make.  It is a thrilling adventure, with rock and roll, cool gadgets, and wild stunts.  Yes, even a hint of romance, too.

Best of all, this book is a true original in a genre packed with copycats.  Alex Rider is the king of teen spies, but Colt Shore beats him out in several ways.  Colt is down-to-earth, humble, and does what is needed without thinking of himself.  He is an Everyman hero, a character that you can identify with and that you will cheer for from cover to cover.  I could hardly put this book down, and suspect I'm not the only one.  Despite its psychedelic but somewhat unappealing cover, this book is a keeper.

The Keys to the Kingdom One: Mister Monday - by Garth Nix

Who would have thought the minute hand from a clock could a) be the perfect weapon, b) cure asthma, and c) help an average teenage boy rescue a magical kingdom from one of seven all-powerful nasty guys.  This book is a bit odd, but is very well-written, fast-paced, and captivating.  Some bits are hard to get used to, like one character named Will, who is actually a small part of a will.  You know, the paper that explains what should happen to your stuff after you're gone.  And that's a main character, so you see what I mean about the oddness.

Strange or not, this first book in The Keys to the Kingdom was amazing and hard to put down.  It was intriguing, mysterious, amazing, and even thrilling.  The levels of fantasy in this book get more extreme as the story moves on, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.  The bad guys chasing Arthur (our main character) are really bad, and you wonder where the author gets his ideas, or if he, perhaps, is just a little sleep-deprived. Regardless, it makes for a fun read!

Copper - by Kazu Kibuishi

If you enjoy Calvin and Hobbes for its humor, wisdom, and the interaction between a boy and his animal, you'll surely enjoy Copper.  This beautifually drawn book of short but poignant comic strips is, in my mind, a masterpiece.  Follow Copper and his dog Fred through all sorts of imaginative journeys.  Fred is nervous and scared, while Copper is curious and ready to explore. These two personalties play off one another perfectly through adventure after adventure.

If you're ready for a more grown-up comic, but still one that's childish and wholly appropriate for all ages, check this out.

The Red Blazer Girls - by Michael Beil

Three girls with bright red blazers would not really strike me as the ideal undercover detectives, but I would be wrong.  Just like Nancy Drew, but more modern, less wealthy, and much more interesting, three twelve-year-old students at a New York City private Catholic school for girls are the hottest crime-fighting team in town.  When these young ladies meet a nutty old lady with clues to a valuable hidden treasure, they are hooked, and not even creepy nasty dudes, a super-sized cat or a (sigh) cute boy can stop them.

This first in a promising new series of mysteries is full of funny situations and interesting characters, and the author does a great job of using sophisticated language and concepts without being too brainy.  The book focuses a lot on the characters' lives and emotions, both serious and side-splitting hilarious, and he arranges the story so that each character's strengths contribute to the ending.  It's excellent writing.  My only problem with it is some foul language and talk about girl issues, which I suppose is fine for teenage girls, but... I'm MISTER K, and there are some things I don't care to read about.  This will probably not be a big winner with the guys, sorry.

Luckily, someone at the publisher changed the cover.  Here's the original, which to me screams "Hey! Don't read me!  I'm boring and old-fashioned!"

For girls who love mysteries, this series will join my list of strong recommendations, right beside the Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen.

True Meaning of Smekday - by Adam Rex

This is a pretty hefty book, and it took me a while to get to it.  The cover gives no indication as to what it's really about, and after reading it I can understand why.  It's no ordinary book.

The reader is first introduced to 12-year-old Gratuity (Tip) Tucci when she is entering an essay contest for her school on the topic, "The True Meaning of Smekday."  Through her essay, we learn not only what Smekday is, but the story of her unbelievable adventure.  I can't really tell you all of what happened to her, but here's the gist:  After her mother was abducted (again), and the first group of aliens take over Earth and relocate all Americans to Florida, Tip meets a friendly fugitive alien and drives all over the U.S. with him in a modified junker car (it hovers!) looking for her mom, who is not in Happy Mouse Kingdom after all.  Along the way, they form a wonderful friendship, overcome many obstacles, and work to find a way to make everything right again. This is complicated by the second alien invasion, and the (looming) end of the earth.

Told with an amazing wit, and supplemented by all sorts of odd and delightful illustrations, this is a book to be treasured.  It's an ambitious read, with many pages (nearly 500), some tricky concepts, and lots to make you think.  That said, it's a reading adventure that you will be glad you took.  Grab this book and discover for yourself what the true meaning of Smekday.

Storm: The Infinity Code - by E. L. Young

Alex Rider would love to join STORM, but he's probably not smart enough.  Yes, he's a brave adolescent English boy who gets roped into the international spy scene, just like the kiddos in this book, but he's a little bland for this group.  STORM is three exceptionally intelligent fourteen year olds in London who, as you would expect, need to save the world.  There's Will, the inventor, Andrew, the computer programmer, and Gaia, who is multilingual, has a photographic memory, and is really good at blowing things up.

This is a fabulous series, created by a technical science writer who decided to branch out and have some fun, which is exactly what the readers will find themselves doing as well.  It's brainy, fast-paced, mysterious, and just emotional enough to tone down the wild technological and planetary geek-speak.  Read this if you're curious about black holes, spies, inventions, Russian grandmothers, explosives, cutting-edge technology, or teens saving the world.

Shiver - by Maggie Stiefvater

A werewolf and a teen girl fall in love, where have we heard this story before?  I picked this up because I wanted to see what teens are reading these days, and this one had some great reviews.  It ended up being a more fun read than I expected, with interesting characters and a slightly twisty, catchy plot. 

This is the story of Grace, a wolf-obsessed high school girl in northern Minnesota who soon discovers that there is more to the wolves in the woods behind her house than anyone guessed. That's right -  they're werewolves!  When she and one of the wolves fall for one another, the lyrical romance of two young lovers with major obstacles to their romance takes over, and it's just as sweet a story as any werewolf romance could hope to be. 

Shiver is definitely a teen book, due to the emotional and (some) physical themes and situations.  I would not recommend it to my fourth graders, but middle school girls and maybe boys will probably enjoy it.  Lovers of wolves, poetry, and old trucks will get a kick out of this new series.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You - by Ally Carter

No, Mister K has not become a teen girl, even though that's the ideal audience for this book.  When I saw a fourth-grade girl reading this at lunch last week, I just had to see what it was all about, with a title like that.  It turned out to be a very enjoyable book, the first in what seems like a well-written, action-packed series of spy novels for 12-year-old girls.

Cammie is a sophomore at the Gallagher School for Exceptional Girls, which seems like an expensive prep school for smart rich girls, but is actually a top-secret spy academy, where the world's best secret agents (who all happen to be female) are trained.  Not only does Cammie speak 14 languages, know how to kill with her bare hands, and have expert disguise and camouflage techniques, but she's also got a crush on a local boy, and and this is one situation that her training did NOT prepare her for.

Like the best school stories (Harry Potter, Andrew Clements books, and so on), this one features a spunky main character who has some shortcomings that her best friends help to balance out.  The three main girls have a series of adventures in and around their school, and along the way the reader gets an excellent feel for the setting of the series, and the interesting characteristics of the main batch of characters.  It's like a mix between Harry Potter (rule-breaking kids at a boarding school full of oddball teachers) and Alex Rider (teenager turned into a dangerous and talented spy), but is much more girly than either.  Girls, you've got to check this one out.

Special thanks to Chloe, a possible Gallagher girl herself, for introducing me to this series. She serves excellent tea! (Finish the book and you'll get it too.)

Milkweed - by Jerry Spinelli

Picture a small boy with no name, no friends or family, and only the ability to steal things without getting caught.  He is a gypsy child, running and running, with nowhere to go and all alone.  Within pages, you realize that this boy is caught in the middle of Warsaw, Poland, as it is being invaded by the Nazis during World War 2 in 1940.  As the Nazis round up all the Jews in Warsaw and imprison them behind a large wall, our hero's story takes flight.  He begins to understand the world, making friends and finding a way to survive at a time when all around him are suffering horribly. 

This is a powerful story about a young boy who experiences firsthand the horror of the Holocaust.  It brings a fresh perspective on this very dark point in human history, but does so in a way that leaves the reader hopeful, as you realize that even in the darkest hour, there are those willing to fight back, and those able to keep hope alive.  Milkweed is an emotionally powerful story, and not one to read lightly.  For teens curious about the human side of the Holocaust, or simply wanting to read an unforgettable, moving story, this is the book for you.

Carlos is Gonna Get It - by Kevin Emerson

Have you ever been in one of those situations where you agree to do something you know you shouldn't, but you don't want to let your friends down?  That's where 7th grader Trina is when this story begins, and this tale, set in an urban middle school near Boston, follows the choices Trina makes and the consequences of those decisions.

All 7th graders are a little weird, but Carlos seems to have some pretty unique characteristics that annoy his classmates to no end.  He disrupts class, doesn't follow the rules, and seems to get away with things that noone else would ever get away with.  The catch:  It's not his fault.  When Trina and her friends decide to teach Carlos a lesson for annoying them so much, it's a pretty nasty thing to do. Will any of them have the courage to stand up for what's right?  Follow along as their friendship is tested to its very limits.

This is an interesting story in part because it's such an accurate portrayal of what kids that age really go through daily, and because it does not have the nice happy ending you'd expect.  Everyone doesn't learn their lesson, and everything doesn't turn out just fine. But that's just like real life, isn't it?

This book is also notable for the way it portrays a diverse cast of characters without making a big deal of it.  There is a strong need for more everyday cultural diversity in popular children's literature, and thiis book is a great addition to the field.

The Hunger Games series - by Suzanne Collins

When an author is this good, people take notice. Yes, I am a HUGE fan of Suzanne Collins' The Underland Chronicles, but her latest series is even better. While not an ideal series for my usual crowd (fourth graders), this mature series is perfect for teens through adults who are looking for an intoxicating new series that will capture their imagination and win their hearts. The first book is The Hunger Games, the second Catching Fire, and that's it for now.

In a fantastical future world, set in the country of Panem, which occupies the land of the United States, a cruel and controlling government rules its twelve districts with an iron fist. Each year all of the districts must provide two children to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised battle to the death. Of the 24 children selected, there can only be one survivor. Katniss is good with a bow, as she has been hunting since she was old enough to string a bow, but does she have what it takes to survive the Hunger Games? And if she does, what then?


This series brims with interesting characters, big ideas, emotional drama, action, and of course, love. There is death, romance, violence, anger, kindness, and everything else required to keep a reader on the edge of his seat until the last page, and to toss the book down and run to the bookstore, begging for the next volume in the series. Yes, it's that good.

The theme of the stories has some similarities to Margaret Peterson Haddix's The Shadow Children series, and I think readers of those books (Among the Hidden, etc.) will also fall head over heels for this series.

Read the first two books, get yourself a mockingjay pin, and join me in pacing impatiently while we wait for the next book.

Check out this Barnes and Noble page about The Hunger Games, and be sure to watch the B&N Studio VIDEO!!

Airborn - by Kenneth Oppel

Imagine a world in which large airships, zeppelins, sailed the skies in place of jets, carrying people and cargo around the world.   In this world, young Matt Cruise has found his dream job on the airship Aurora.  This was the ship his father had worked on, and it was Matt's destiny to follow in his father's footsteps.  Follow along as Matt has adventure after adventure, and you will begin to wish YOU could sail on the Aurora too.

At first, I loved this book because of its excellent descriptions of this alternate history, and the amazing airships.  Before long, though, I realized that this was really quite an adventurous story, and whenever I thought the story had settled down, the author threw in some more twists and turns.  It's a great book for those who love adventure stories, for those who have an interest in airships or even sea-faring ships, and for anyone who simply loves a well-written story.  This is the first in a trilogy, and it seems that the author has only gotten better after his Silverwing series.

Word Nerd - by Susin Nielsen

I first picked this up because I love Scrabble, and the cover appealed to me. (So sue me, even Mister K judges a book by its cover occasionally!)  Once I started reading, I was hooked.  This is definitely a book for older readers (TEEN section), but it really captures what it's like to be a preteen boy who's allergic to everything, has a crazily overprotective mother who can't hold a job for more than a year, living in the basement of a convicted felon's house, and playing Scrabble with professionals.  If you like that stuff, read this book.  If that sounds weird, read it anyway, and you'll probably be as impressed as I was.  Let's hope this Canadian author keeps up the good work and brings us more interesting books like this.