Shade’s Children by Garth Nix

This is an intense sci-fi story encapsulated in one story.  If you are a Garth Nix fan, this is his more older teen books to read.  Enter into a new world, a new earth, a new world of intelligent life.  Think Space Odyssey, meets AI and zombies.  I should mention there are f*bombs and also sex.

Make Me A Star Hard Times High by Susan Beth Pfeffer

It's an easy read.  And enjoyable.  Not rocket science but fun.  It's fine for any library.  Enjoy.

Life as We Knew It: This World We Live In Susan Beth Pfeffer

It's a great series.  It's hard to read at times because it's an apocalyptic world.  Susan Pfeffer really has thought out, researched and created a world that makes me want to scour antique shops and look for items that would help us survive is we no longer had electricity and lived an world that survival is everything.  It's a good read and enjoy!

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Intense.  That would be the word I would use to describe this story.  OMG.  Intense.  It's a great read but very dangerous.  Should I put it on high school shelves?  Hmmm probably.  I loved this story.  It gave me stomach aches.  Action and danger on basically every page.  Lauren Oliver delivers again!

Blind: By Rachel DeWoskin

It's an okay story.  There are a few Fbombs and discussions about teen sex.  Not sure if I'd put in the library.  I would say read it first and have a conversation with students before they check it out.

Me Before You: After You By Jojo Moyes

It's a good read.  It's also a treat to hear the audio version.  It's a good story for adults.  Enjoy.

Make Me A Star: Wanting it All by Susan Beth Pfeffer

It's a simple and easy read.  I like it better then Pretty Little Liars series.  It's a short read and each book takes you into the back story of two of the characters. There is some good character development.  Perhaps a little dated but good for public libraries to carry.  Enjoy.

Make Me A Star: Take Two and... Rolling! by Susan Beth Pfeffer

I actually like this series.  Pfeffer, can manage these different characters and their problems as they star in a tv show.  It's a good series for personal libraries.  Enjoy.

Embassy Row Series: Take the KEy & Lock her up by Ally Carter

It's quite the series.  Part mystery, part danger, part adventure and a whole lot of twists and turns.  Throw in a dash of conspiracy and you got yourself a story to enjoy.  Perfect for teens.  Grace is her own hero with lots of support from her embassy row friends.  It's a good read.  Enjoy.  I would buy series for my high school library.

What Light by Jay Asher

I am buying this for my high school library.  Why?  Because it's a great story between friends and new people.  It's romance that's perfect for high school students.  I would read this book again.  It's sweet.  It's perfect for personal libraries as well.  You care about all the characters.  The family is solid.  It's a refreshing book.  Enjoy.

Rumble by Ellen Hopkins

When Matt's younger brother commits suicide because he was bullied for being gay, Matt goes down a dark journey.  Drugs, sex, alcohol and guilt make a dangerous cocktail to cope with life.  It's a well crafted story but I would say for mature readers because of the content.  Oh I should add there are some F bombs.  Matt is a very angry person.  I would say, read this book before you decide to add it to your school library.  It's not an easy read.

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

This is more of a book for personal libraries then high school libraries.  I checked it out from the public library. It's filled with miscommunication, lies, parties, hook ups and drinking.  I found the book shallow.  There are some big secrets and Jordan is reacting to finding out his mother is cheating on his father.  It was a challenge to like both characters and the support cast.

Prime time: Make Me A Star by Susan Beth Pfeffer

It's a book that is fine for anyone to read.  Fine for any library.  It's a quick read.  You get to meet each character and learn a little bit about them.  The book sets the scene for the next book.

Dualed by Elsie Chapman

I have read other books similar to this.  I am going to have to say, pass on this one.  The characters are not likable, there is no desire to change the system and fix it.  It just didn't work.

What the Dickens by Gregory Maguire

It's entertaining but I think the story is not for non-readers at the high school level.  It's quirky like Terry Pratchett.  I think it's great for personal libraries and public libraries.  I don't think it would work at the high school libraries.  I enjoyed the story and was able to hear the audio version.  Jason Culp does a great job reading and I would hear his other audio readings.

Life as We Knew It: The Dead & The Gone By Susan Beth Pfeffer

Its an amazing story series.  The first one was intense and this story is even more intense.   The author really thought out, researched and created a credible story.  The emotions, events and actions all ring with a truth of possibility.  A definite must read and a good edition for any high school library.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

The story was okay.  Would I buy it for my high school library?  Probably not.  The beginning came on strong but then became muddled.  It's fine for personal libraries.  I have to say, creating a story with time travel can be challenging to make it work.

Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett writings aren't for everyone but they are fun silly reads.  Enjoy.

A Flavia De Luce Novel: Speaking From Among The Bones By Alan Bradley

I love this series.  If you love British humor and clever stories, you will love this story lines.  Think one part The Number One Lady's Detective Agency, another part Encyclopedia Brown and one part Sherlock Holmes.  It's a good read.  Treat yourself and listen to the audio version.  Enjoy.

By Your Side by Kasie West

This book is fine for high school libraries.  It's a good story for teens to enjoy.  It pays to be honest with yourself and your friends and listen to your heart.

Geek Girl: Model Misfit By Holly Smale

Think Alexander No Good Rotten Horrible Day meets the Princess Diaries and you have a great novel.  I like it. Yes I would have it in the library.  The ending works.  Oh just enjoy it.

Noggin by John Corey Whaley

I actually liked this story.  So suspend your belief of all the details involved in attaching a head to a different body and bring the person back to life.  What if you woke up and you are the same age, different body and the world has passed you by?  The story works.  Also his best friend before Travis dies tells him that he is gay.  Then when Travis wakes up, his best friend is dating a girl.  Travis also finds out his girlfriend is engaged.    It's an interesting read.  Fine for any library.  Enjoy.

A Flavia de Luce Mystery: Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d by Alan Bradley

Oh I'm so glad I heard about this series.  It's a great mystery and adventure,  it's smart and entertaining.    It's a good read with a young Flavia de Luce, who loves chemistry and is sometimes lonely as the youngest daughter who keeps finding dead people and figuring out how they had expired.  It's a good read.  Enjoy and fine for any library.

Shamrock Stable: No Horse Wanted By Shannon Kennedy

There is a lot the author packs into this story.  Would I buy it for my high school, no.  Okay for personal libraries, yes.  Involved in the story is animal abuse, rescuing animals, friends, track, dating, working and having your own horses and multiple horses at that.  We go into the world of cholic and horse lice and other parasites.  The story is okay and the main character comes off a bit much in the whiney department.

Old Kingdom Series: Clariel by Garth Nix

I love the original series and even got some students hooked on the series.  Garth Nix has something for teens and even younger readers.  This book is the prequel book that explains a lot if you are a fan of the series.  It's a good story series.  Enjoy.

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

Oh the words woven together paint a picture of American life with a bit of magic of boyhood summer charm.  Any book by Ray Bradbury is worth the read.  Contained are short stories that radiate out from Doug a young boy.  Meet the quirky characters of Green Town, Illinois.  Enjoy this classic book.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Unvierse by Benjamin Alire Saenz

These two young teens are learning about love and being honest with themselves.  It's a good story that is fine for high school libraries.  (Unless your high school is uber conservative)  Dante is in love with Aristotle in the story.  It's about truth and kindness, anger and secrets.  It's won four different awards.  It is a good read.

A Flavia de Luce Story: The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse by Alan Bradley

I am grateful for the high school student who told my fellow librarian about this series.  I've been enjoying the audiobook versions but this particular book is a very short story to read.  If you love a good mystery this series needs to be on your reading list.  Plus it's really funny.  Enjoy, it's a good read.

A Flavia de Luce Mystery: As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley

Flavia is one smart little girl.  She is also one lonely girl sent away from her family to go across the ocean to Canada.  She ends up in another mystery.  Alan Bradley can really write a good mystery with solid characters and a lot of chemistry.  Enjoy, it's a good mystery!

Crewel World: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

It's a dystopian world that we get a glimpse of.  It's not my favorite dystopian novel but it is intriguing.  I would buy it for my high school library. It's filled with conspiracy theories and power plays.  

Slow Dance In Purgatory by Amy Harmon

I was okay with the story till the end.  I was wondering how the author would end the book and she took the direction I was hoping she wouldn't.  Would I buy this book for my high school library?  No, it's okay but not a strong story.  I would recommend Meg Cabot's Mediator series.

RedWall: The Wall by Brian Jacques

I got to revisit this story I had read many many years ago.  I had a hankering to enjoy the story again.  It's got a medieval feel to the story where the cast are in the roles of what people would normally have.  It's about being brave to face great dangers to save your home and the people of your world.  Good development of characters.  Enjoy it's a good read!

Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

I love the research that Tamora Pierce used to create this story.  I love the little stone creature that accompanies Evvy.  Evvy reminds me of all the students that I have that have lots of energy and passion about what they are learning about.  This is a great series and worthy to be in any school library.  I would say even older middle school students who seriously enjoy adventure and reading and have the maturity to enjoy this story can read this book.  Enjoy, it's a great read.

An Unfortunate Fairy Tale: Forever by Chanda Hahn

I love this series because the characters are so strong and the author takes traditional fairy tales and gives it a contemporary twist.  There's lots of fighting and kicking you know what.  If I had a dinner party,  I would so invite Chanda Hahn to be one of the guests.  I'm buying the whole series for my high school library.  It's a solid read.  Enjoy.

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan

Oh my goodness if you need a study in characters this is the book for you.  So many different types of personalities.  It's a tragic story stemming from true life.  Lois Duncan, the author,  had a personal loss when her daughter was murdered.  It's a story that won awards in the past.  It's a classic book that involves peer pressure, bulling behavior and other dangerous behavior.  It's an unnerving read.  I know I have it in my high school library.  It was also made in to a movie in the 1990's.  It's quite the read and I do recommend it.  The story plot just spins out to chaos.

Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant

Michael Grant masters the ability of Show in his writing and it's pretty darn scary how he shows.  It's a dark story when people must face their greatest fears.  It's good and intense as Mara, our main character is trying to figure out what is going on.  Paranormal, atonement and fear feed this story that jumps around a bit but it works.  Fine for any high school library.