Chicks With Sticks (It's a Purl Thing) by Elizabeth Lenhard

Following the death of her beloved Aunt, Scottie discovers that knitting helps calm her anxious mind and she quickly becomes hooked. She stumbles across KnitWit, a funky yarn shop, where the owner Alice teaches her how to knit and find the perfect yarn. Scottie soon finds herself a part of a small knitting circle made up of girls from her school: Amanda, Scotties former best friend who struggles to knit with her learning disability, Tay, who starts knitting on a dare but then can't stop, and free spirited Bella who is trying to rebel and becomes addicted to knitting. With knitting becoming trendy again, it only seems natural that a book featuring knitting would appear. This is an interesting story about a group of girls who form the bonds of friendship while learning to knit. You don't have to be a knitter to enjoy this book but it helps to appreciate the art. Each of the girls is flawed and struggles to overcome her own challenges through knitting. Easy patterns are included at the end of the book.

Played by Dana Davidson

Ian Striver desperately wants to join the FBI, Freaky Boys Incorporated,the exclusive fraternity at his high school. In order to become a member, Ian must complete a series of challenges. He final challenge is to get plain Kylie Winthrop to give him her virginity and fall in love with him within three weeks. Ian is not prepared to fall for Kylie, but he does. Does Ian complete his challenge? Will he betray Kylie and her trust simply to become a member of the FBI? Even though the storyline seems like your typical teen movie, the book is a great story. Ian and Kylie are great characters, honest and realistic. Obvious moral lessons and themes are not judgemental and do not deter from the story.

Marly's Ghost by David Levithan

As Valentine's Day approaches, Ben is having a difficult time coping with the death of his girlfriend Marly. Ben's unhappiness causing him to lash out at anyone and everyone who crosses his path, including Tiny and Tim a gay freshmen couple who try to get Ben to purchase a flower. Marly's ghost, bound to earth by the charm bracelet she used to wear, pays Ben a visit warning him that the Ghost of Love Past, The Ghost of Love Present, and the Ghost of Love Future will be coming to him that night and he should pay attention to the lessons they are trying to show him. This modern remix of Dicken's A Christmas Carol is slightly awkward and confusing at times. Levithan uses language very similar to Dicken's original which seems out of place with the modern teen speak. The important morals of Dicken's tale are present and important lessons about love are learned.

Scary Beautiful by Niki Burnham

Chloe Rand's junior year is not off to a good start. Her long time boyfriend's family has moved to Connecticut and rather than give the long-distance thing a try, he decides to break up with her --- at the airport just before he boards his plane. She is so devastated that she does not tell anyone about the break up. Her friends only add to Chloe's angst about her recent break-up by telling her that if she and Sean ever broke up every girl in school would hate her simply because she is so beautiful. Chloe realizes that she has been living in a bubble the last few years and is determined to figure out who she is without Sean. She joins the cross country team and makes new friends, especially geeky senior Billy. The problem is that one of her best friends also has a crush on Billy. Chloe's complaining about her perfect flawless beauty will make you want to shake her at first, but her character becomes much more likable as the story goes on. The dynamic between her and her friends including the jealousy and fighting was very realistic, however, the resolution of their conflict was a little too clean and happily ever-after. The beauty and the geek storyline is a familiar one, but readers looking for a light-weight, clean romance will enjoy this one.

Dawn's Early Light by Nancy Krulik

Sarah's boyfriend Tim is shipping off to basic training in twenty-four hours. Sarah and Tim have their last day all planned out from the party at his parents house to hanging out at the beach with their friends. That morning, however, Sarah's family gets some terrible news about her brother Ronnie who is stationed in Afghanistan. Sarah tries to go on with her day as planned, however, she cannot help but thinking about her brother and the danger that Tim is about to face. While the major issue of the story is very contemporary and relevant, the book itself is kind of flat. Sarah's fears for Tim and Ronnie are honest and realistic but she lacks depths beyond her relationship.