Sweet Sixteen by Kate Brian

Teagan Phillips beautiful, fashionable, and extremely wealthy. She's turning sixteen and is planning the biggest, best, most talked about party in the Philadephia area. As the big night approaches, things are not going as smoothly as the Teagan designed. At her party, a series of mishaps leave an angry Teagan in search of alcohol and results in lying on the concrete floor of the wine cellar. Teagan is visited by a strange visitor who takes Teagan on a series of trips between the past, present, and future showing the spoiled, ungrateful Teagan what her life would be like if she did not change her ways. Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol meets MTVs My Super Sweet Sixteen. An interesting modern spin on the classic Dicken's tale. Obnoxious, spoiled Teagan is highly unlikeable, until snipets of her past reveal what has made Teagan the person she has become. Teagan's sudden change gives readers hope for her future and leave readers wondering about Teagan's future (though there is plenty of room left for a sequel). Teen girls will devour this fun and fresh novel.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Sixteen-year-old Miles Halter is off to seek "The Great Perhaps" while attending boarding school in Alabama. His year is filled with friends, pranks, and fun until tragedy leaves Miles and his friends seeking answers about life and death and the true meaning of friendship. An interesting coming-of-age story with vivid, honest, and very realistic characters. At times the descriptions and narrative can be a little too dense and drawn out, but for the most part the story moves quickly and keeps readers interested. With a blend of humor, romance, tragedy, and devient behavior (sexual acts, drinking, and smoking) this tale is sure to find appeal with a variety of readers.

The Turning by Gloria Whelan

Seventeen-year-old Tanya lives in Leningrad with her parents and grandparents in a small apartment. Tanya dances with one of the best ballet troupes is Russia and has the opporuntity to travel with the troupe to France for a performance. The Soviet Union is on the verge of a tremendous change as communism is on the decline and politics are very important to Tanya's family. Another dancer in the ballet is encouraging Tanya to defect when the troupe goes to Paris, but Tanya is unsure she will have the courage to leave her family and friends. This companion novel to Angel on the Square (2001), The Impossible Journey (2004), and Burying the Sun (2004) continues to follow the same Russian family, now in its fourth generation. Like the previous tales, this one is rich with Russian culture and history and is interwoven beautifully in the story. Wonderful details create clear pictures of everyday life during this turning point in Russian history. Tanya is an appealing heroine, who is wise and mature beyond her seventeen-years.

Lust by Robin Wasserman

Harper wants her best friend Adam, who is dating Beth, who is the object of Adam's best male friend Kane's desires, and Kane is the object of Harper's best female friend Miranda's affections. Throw in the new girl from New York City, Kaia and a young, hot French teacher and major drama ensues. This first book in the Seven Deadly Sins series is sure to find fans among teen girls who are anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Gossip Girls or A-List series. It would also find appeal to fans of the tv series Desperate Housewifes. Sex, lies, and alcohol fuel the drama of this fast-paced, lightweight, tantalizing, soap-opera style book. The diverse cast of interesting characters are largely unlikeable however. It will be interesting to see where the characters are taken in the rest of the series (one book for each of the deadly sins). Envy (#2) was released in December 05, Pride (#3) is scheduled for March 06, and Wrath (#4) is scheduled for June 06.