Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

Sixteen-year-old Victoria prefers to be called Egg, after her favorite character in a SciFi movie. Egg considers herself boy proof- too intelligent and tough to be appealing to guys. Egg considers herself a loner, though she is involved with the school paper and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club. As a straight-A student, she dominates classroom discussions and is among the running for class valedictorian. As the daughter of an actress and a special effects guru (now divorced), Egg is constantly surrounded by aspects of Hollywood. When Max Carter moves to town, Egg finds her life turned upside down.

Egg's narration allows readers to see the different sides of her- Egg (the tough, snobby side that she portrays to others) and Victoria (lonely, confused girl inside). Max's character, however, seems too perfect- his only flaw is dating someone who seems completely incompatible with him. The story wraps up too nice and neatly, which conflicts with the rest of the tone of the book. Egg's original character, and her emotional journey throughout the book, however, make the novel worth reading.

Hook, Line, & Sinker by G.P. Guarente

Fifteen-year-old Fiona Delmar buys a new fish each time a boyfriend, or crush disappoints her. Fiona has a busy life in between running track, practicing for her lead role in a production of Grease, worrying about her sister's departure for college and her parent's marriage, and trying to interpret the actions of her new crush. Each chapter tells the story (in no particular chronological order) of how each fish joined the tank and jumps between past and present. Some of Fiona's "crushes" will seem silly to readers who may expect more of a relationship to occur before a fish is warrented. Good for readers who want clean, light-hearted, sweet romances as opposed to more racier titles.

Invisible by Pete Hautman

Doug and Andy are unlikely best friends--one a loner obsessed by his model trains, the other a popular student involved in football and theater--who grew up together and share a bond that nothing can sever.

Wow. This book is just incredible. I started it while waiting for an oil change and I was hooked, I just couldn't put it down. The story grabs you and just refuses to let you go. Doug's story is just heartbreaking- he takes everything literally, has no social skills and is a complete loner. His best friend Andy is the opposite, popular and athletic. Doug is targeted with cruelty and violence, which only makes him retreat more into his obsession- the imaginary world he has created with this train set. It is only the bridge he is creating from stripped matches and his nightly talks with Andy that keep Doug together. The truth about Andy won't come as a surprise when Doug's defenses finally break down and reveal the secret that he struggles to hide from even himself.

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

When Megan Meade's military parents are sent to Korea, Megan is given an option. She can either go to Korea with her parents or she can move to Boston and live with the McGowan's (her father's friend, his wife, and their seven sons). Living in a house with seven boys will be an interesting experience for Megan, who has never even been kissed. Megan records her observations regarding this strange species and sends them to her best friend.

This extremely funny, quick read will have readers laughing out loud as they are drawn into the world of the McGowan boys. Brian's story is fresh and fun. Female readers who think that Megan has it made living with seven boys will find themselves cringing after Megan's description of the bathroom they all share and rethink their initial assessment as the boys unite in an attempt to drive Megan out of the house. The characters each have their own quirks that make them interesting (and likeable)- although the younger McGowan boys play less of a role and are not as in-depth as the older ones. Some swearing and a scene (albeit not graphic) where Doug has sex with his brother Evan's girlfriend, may make the book inappropriate for some readers.

If We Kiss by Rachel Vail

High school freshman Charlotte (Charlie to her friends) had never been kissed- until the day that Kevin Lazarus kissed her at school. Charlie, who never really liked Kevin before that day, finds herself confused about him and their kiss. Charlie is devastated when she soon after she spies Kevin and her best friend Tess making out at her party and is destroyed when they begin dating. Things are complicated even further for Charlie when she finds out that her mother and Kevin's father are dating. During a combined ski trip, Charlie again finds herself kissing Kevin and struggles with what this will mean for her friendship with Tess.

The problems that come with dealing with a crush and remaining loyal to a friend is one that will resonate with many teenage girls. While Charlie's voice is realistic and funny, however, other characters seem flat and one-dimensional. Charlie's behavior will seem obsessive and immature to more mature readers. Other interesting subplots (such as the remarriage of parents) never seem to be fully developed.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie: A Novel by David Lubar

Scott Hudson is your average freshmen- small, confused, and hassled by upperclassman. Between the homework that keeps him up all night, and the extra curriculuars he becomes involved with in hopes of catching the eye of the girl he is interested in. While all this is going on, Scott learns that his mother is pregnant. As he discovers he strength in writing, he begins a journal to his unborn sibling with tips on how to survive high school.

This fresh and funny novels is one of the best that I have read this year. Scott's struggles to survive his freshmen year will ring true to many teens. His narration and journal entries are humorous and insightful. The eccentric cast of characters add several laugh out loud moments.

Guys Write for Guys Read edited by Jon Scieszka

A diverse anthology of what it means to be a guy written by more than 80 prominent male writers and illustrators. This collection of stories by guys for guys is entertaining and humorous.

Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

Tibby, Carmen, Lena, and Bridget are back in the 3rd installment in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. The girls embark on their third summer with the pants, which begins with their high school graduation. Tibby struggles with the idea of Brian becoming her boyfriend, and their relationship is tested soon after following a tragedy in her family. Carmen deals with the surprise of her mother's pregnancy. Leena pursues her passion in art and fights to attend the school of her choice in the fall. Bridget deals with an unexpected surprise at soccer camp. The transitions between the girls stories does not flow as smoothly as previous installments. The book is filled with emotion, humor, love, friendship and of course the magical pants.

Heavy Metal and You by Christopher Krovatin

Sam Markus is a hard core Metal Head, his life has a soundtrack at all times ("one hundred percent grade-A METAL"). Sam lives a heavy metal life- dresses in all black, loves going to concerts and moshing, and spends lots of time hanging out with his friends, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, and exchanging vulgar insults. Sam's life changes when he meets Melissa, a girl whose life is nothing like Sam's and while she is interested in his love of metal music, the lifestyle does not appeal to her. Sam soon finds himself going "straight-edged" for her and spending less and less time with his friends. Sam soon realizes that he is beginning to lose himself in his attempt to maintain his relationship with Melissa.

Heavy metal music plays a crucial role in the story and the author does a wonderful job of enfusing that music into the story- using lyrics, album names, and recognizable band names as well as a great heavy metal cd cover style book jacket to CD player icons to direct the story (play, pause, skip ahead, back, and stop). Anyone who enjoys heavy metal will find this book appealing, however, one does not have to enjoy heavy metal to appreciate the story. This great mix of humor, angst, and anger will resonate at some level with just about everyonw who is trying to figure out who they are, and how they can maintain themselves and a relationship with someone completely different at the same time.