Brilliant. Perhaps it was my boarding school education (all girls, thankfully. I didn’t have to put up with the patriarchal  traditions Frankie did) but it was ver real. Frankie returns as a legacy as a sophomore to the boarding school her father attended, loved and where he hinted at being part of  a secret society. Frankie has filled out over the summer and as soon as she gets back she attracts the attentions of the senior boys–one senior boy who claims to adore her but patronizes her and only spends time with her when his friends aren’t calling. But Frankie infiltrates their groups in a social commentary that is both hilarious and empowering. True, the metaphors are a bit heavy at times, but it is above all a story of strength.

She is in a quad with three roommates–all very different from Viola and from eachother, but still they manage to form a tight friendship. Together these girls help Viola overcome her homesickness, adjust to group living and deal with the stresses of high school, especially boys.

Moose, his parents and his sister Natalie move to Alcatraz Island so that his father can work as an electrician in the prison. His family is excited for the move since they can now send his sister to a special school.

Moose is not happy though. He misses his old friends and can’t find any boys on the island who love baseball as much as he does. Many people on the island dislike his sister just because she is different. The Warden is very strict and makes it known that if Moose doesn’t obey all the rules, his Dad could lose his job.  And, to make matters worse, the Warden’s daughter, Piper expects his full cooperation in a scheme regarding all their school-mates, laundry and Al Capone.

How can Moose protect his family, help his sister, find time to play baseball and catch a glimpse of the notorious mobster, Al Capone?

These books tell the same story from two different teens.

In Life as we Knew It, Miranda and her family go outside to watch an asteroid streak through the night sky. Then the asteroid hits the moon and the moon changes its orbit closer to the earth. It doesn’t take long for this change to affect Earth.

Volcanoes Erupt. Tsunamis. Early Winter. Frigid Temperatures. No Electricity.

Miranda’s mom takes her and her younger brother to the store where its $100 for a shopping cart. They each are given something to buy: cat food, canned food, first aid, bottled water, batteries. Her mom emptied their checking account and the group makes trip after trip through the store.  Meanwhile, Miranda’s other brother takes weeks to return from college and then spends weeks chopping down the trees in the backyard to create firewood.

The schools try to stay open, but its been months and things are still getting worse. Despite the shopping trip, food is beginning to be scarce and Miranda’s mom is down to only one meal a day trying to provide more for her family.

In The Dead and the Gone, Alex misses the “event” but because he lives in the city his story is very different from Miranda’s. He has to care for his younger sisters and his parents are completely unreachable.

Both books are page-turners. Both tell the story of insurmountable circumstances. These stories are terrifying and poignant. Unlike many stories, Pfeffer writes about these circumstances in an amazing and realistic manner.

So everyone’s read them, and on the eve of the movie release for New Moon, the popularity of this series is as strong as ever.

Bella moves in with her Dad to let her mom travel with her new husband. Her dad lives in a town that is “under near-constant cover of rain and cloud” it sounds dreary, and Bella isn’t exactly a joiner. But the new town is so small that she is an instant celebrity, to everyone except the Cullens. In fact, Edward, seems to hate her from the beginning.Yet, fate keeps drawing them together.

It doesn’t take long for Bella to realize all the Cullens are vampires, or for her and Edward to fall in love. But, there are perils that come with dating a vampire. And it turns out, vampires aren’t the only dangers in Bella’s world.Edward is on constant watch to protect Bella, but as the series continues it becomes clear that Bella also protects Edward.

This is angsty and compelling series. The story of a first all-encompassing love.

Its just like any other day at MICA High for Leo, when a new girl walks into the lunch room and plays Happy Birthday to another student on the ukalele. She is called only the name she choose for herself: Stargirl. It takes the students of MICA High some time to adjust to her uniqueness. However, Leo knows instantly that there is something  her. That he loves her.

After her unique cheering spurs incredible interest in the foodball team she is asked to join the cheerleading the squad. But when their basketball team is on a winning streak and she begins to chear for both teams her popularity quickly diminishes.

Can Leo and Stargirl find eachother? meet

Is Leo strong enough to not let Stargirls lack of popularity affect his feelings for her?

The Bermudez Triangle

This book starts as a group of closely-knit friends prepare to lose part of their group for the summer. They have been best friends forever.

When Nina leaves to go to Stanford for the summer, Avery and Mel enter into a relationship. It starts out with just one kiss and grows into something deeper. Mel is sure she is gay, although she has never told anyone. Avery isn’t a lesbian, but she really likes Mel.

But when Nina returns for the school year, love-sick for her boyfriend on the other side of the country, are Avery and Mel going to come clean? How do you tell your best-friend that your group is down to a couple? And how do you stay in a relationship when it has to be a secret? Or when he is 3,000 miles away?

Freak Show

The book takes us through Billy’s first few months at this new school and how things aren’t always what they seem. It is a book about self-discovery, love, friendship and what the underdog can achieve.