Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

With strange vintage photos to inspire a story, let your imagination take you on this story to enjoy and cherish.

Wonder Struck by Brian Selznick

If you've read The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick,  you'll be happy to know that this book is equally crafted.  It's smart with two compelling stories blended together it's a great book to behold.

Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

I loved Touching Spirit Bear and was happy to see that the story continued.  I was lucky enough to hear Ben Mikaelsen speak at the California School Library Association and he was a dynamic speaker. Sharing stories about raising orphan bears and Fluffy, his bear that he had.  Please read Touching Spirit Bear.  And then read Ghost of Spirit Bear.  Its maybe a bit idealistic but we can all dream the dream.  If more people read this story, maybe bully behavior would decrease.  I think that both these books should be in every classroom and school library.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Oh, the adventure of a lifetime in a world that lives on scraps and metals and the quality of life is excellent for those who can afford it otherwise, you get by on what ever you can.  Nailer has to survive.  He's lucky but how long can that luck last, when you're own father is hunting you and a rich girl who's never worked hard a day in her life down and will probably kill you.  This is a survivor story.  Read it.
You'll thank me later.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

I was touched by this story.  Walking in other's shoes threads through out the story, to see in fresh eyes what people are going through.  To have a better understanding of what life has to offer. To see why people make the choices that they do.  Sal needs to go see her mother who left her and is a few states away.  Her grandparents driver he across the states and seeing sights that her mother had sent postcards to her on her travels.  Go on the trip and meet Sal and her grandparents, Mrs. Cadaver and Phoebe.
You'll thank me later.

Beautiful Creatures by Garcia & Stohl

This was a well crafted book.  I enjoy every word and was surprised at some of the events in the story.  The story takes place in modern times.  Ethan keeps having these odd dreams about a girl that smells of lemons and rosemary.  The new girl lives with her uncle that no one in the very small town has ever seen. And she drives the family hearse.  When they find a locket that sends them visions of the past of a tragic and doomed love story that may be connected to their own story, things really get interesting.  Meanwhile, this new girl is dreading her sixteenth birthday.  What girl dreads her sixteenth birthday?
Great read and couldn't wait to leave work to finish the story.  It's up for 2012 CYRM award.