Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess

Meredith's father was supposed to serve nine years in jail for raping her and several other children in their community. Unfortunately, her father is now out on parole after only serving three years. Meredith's mother is anxious to have her family be whole again, completely ignoring Meredith's desires to have nothing to do with her abusive father. Meredith knows that it is only time before her father is up to his old tricks again and with the help of a retired cop devises a plan to put her father back in jail where he belongs.Meredith's voice is hauntingly realistic and is goes through events in both the present and the past. Her decision to become the sacrificial lamb in order to prevent other innocent children from being victimized by her father shows immense courage and inner strength. Both parents are wholly unlikeable but Meredith finds support from her grandmother, a retired police officer, her boyfriend, Andy, who was also a victim of her father's, and his mother. The story races towards the inevitable confrontation between Meredith and her father, and everything wraps up neat and clean at the end.

The Redheaded Princess by Ann Rinaldi

As a child, Elizabeth was all too aware that her life hinged on the mood of her father, and following his death, the mood of those in power. The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boylen grew up believing that one day she would be Queen, despite the fact that she was third in her father's line of succession. Rinaldi examines young Elizabeth's life from the age of nine through her coronation as Queen. Elizabeth is an astute and intelligent young woman, wise beyond her years. Even as a young girl, she surrounds herself with valuable tutors, advisors, and friends who are extremely loyal to her. She keeps her wits about her as she is arrested as a traitor, which literally keeps her head attached to her neck. As always, Rinaldi has created a beautifully crafted historical fiction tale that really puts readers into the sixteenth century. She clearly portrays the power struggles, religious conflicts, and emotional turmoil that Elizabeth faced. Rinaldi includes a short bibliography and an author's note that explains her interest in Elizabeth's life. The author's note, however, does not explain how much of Rinaldi's story is taken from historical record and how much is simply story.

Go Figure by Jo Edwards

Ryan began to get fat in fifth grade after her brother was diagnosed with lukemia and has been a fat girl ever since. Seven years later, 5'1" Ryan weighs in at 206 pounds and is completely obsessed with her weight. She measures everything- every relationship, every goal- by how much her fat interferes. Ryan's life is far from where she wants it to be, her BFFF (best fat friends forever) is in California at her father's house leaving her to face senior year without her, her brother, while in remission, has become a pot-head bum, and she's currently single, while Noah, her ex-boyfriend has become a huge pop star that is currently gracing the cover of Rolling Stone, and writing songs about Ryan that make her look like a suicidal, food obsessed freak. Things start to look up when she is accepted into an exclusive photography summer program taught by a world renowned photographer and discovers that her old best friend and next door neighbor Josh is in the class and they begin to reconnect.

Ryan is a strong-minded and very likeable character and teenage girls will connect with her and her insecurities. Her obsession with all things related to her weight is taken to a bit of an extreme, but this reader is certain that most teen girls will understand where Ryan is coming from, even if at times they want to shake her silly. Ryan is very aware of the psychological aspects behind her weight and though at first reluctant, finally begins to address them with the help of her psychiatrist. The story is standard chick lit fair but has enough of a problem to drawn in those looking for more than just a predictable, light-hearted quick read. Everything is resolved and wrapped up neatly by the end and Ryan is on her way to becoming confident and happy the way she is.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Two weeks after Hannah Baker killed herself, Clay comes home to find a package addressed to him containing seven numbered cassette tapes. When Clay plays the tapes the voice of Hannah Baker informs him that he is one of the reasons that she died. Seven tapes with thirteen sides to the story and to figure out his part in it, he'll have to listen to it all.
Asher has written a novel that packs an emotional punch. The story is told through the alternatingly voices of Hannah and her narrative on the cassette tapes and Clay as he reacts to what he hears. Like Clay, readers will be immediately drawn into Hannah's story, not wanting to stop until they have heard every twisted detail that could explain her life-ending decision. Readers will feel each and every betrayal and emotionally react to all of Hannah's secrets. This is one of those books that keeps you thinking long after you've finished reading. It presents a clear message on how actions can impact others, but does so without being preachy. It does not gloss over the harsh parts of high school life and includes sex, partying, and rape but not graphically. Jay Asher's debut novel is a must read and is one that will appeal to adults as well as teens. An aside- I was disappointed that there was no post-information on the identifying the signs of a suicidal person, or any suicide hotline phone numbers as it was mentioned repeatedly in the story that people missed the signs prior to Hannah's suicide.