The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Eighth grader Vladimir Tod has been living with his "Aunt" Nelly since his parents mysterious death. Vlad's life is anything but normal- he is a vampire. Only Vlad's best friend Henry and Nelly know his secret and Vlad lives as any normal thirteen year old boy- aside from drinking blood Nelly brings home from the hospital. Vlad's relatively normal life is shaken up, however, when his favorite teacher, Mr. Craig disappears and Mr. Otis becomes the substitute. Something is not quite right about Mr. Otis and soon Vlad finds himself learning more about his vampire family and culture than he ever thought possible- all well fighting for his life against those desperate for vengence.

Brewer has written a fun and engaging tale that is sure to appeal to middle school vampire fans- especially boys. Vlad is a funny and engaging narrator whose typical teen angst will resonate with many readers. A good initiation into the cannon of vampire literature for younger readers who aren't quite ready for the dark and violent stories of other vampire tales. Will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next installment Ninth Grade Slays.

The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver

Roxy's life changes dramatically on her sixteenth birthday when her family heritage is awakened and she is transformed from an awkward band geek to a sexy teenage siren. As her grandmother helps her explore her new powers, Roxy learns how to control the minds of men to get what she wants by simply playing a few notes on her flute. There are two rules to being a siren- you cannot tell anyone about being a siren and you can not fall in love. Unfortunately for Roxy, those rules are harder to follow then she thought they would be.Toliver has a fresh and funny writing style that is reminescent of Meg Cabot and is sure to engage many teen readers. The blend of fantasy and romance is a departure from other Simon Romantic Comedies, but for readers who are willing to completely suspend reality it is a a worthy addition to the series.

Spells & Sleeping Bags

Rachel's powers have finally bloomed and now she and Miri are off to spend the summer at camp. While Rachel is thrilled, Miri is less than excited. Things don't run as smoothly for Rachel as she would like and one of her bunkmates, Liana is determined to make her life miserable. As funny and fresh as the two previous installments in the Magic in Manhattan series. Rachel is a likeable narrator who is sure to connect with most teen readers. The perfect combination of light-hearted chick lit, romance, and magic.

The Invisible by Mats Wahl

Hilmer Eriksson goes to school Monday morning and discovers that he is invisible. When a detective arrives in his classroom asking questions about Hilmer and his disappearance, Hilmer decides that the only way he is going to figure out what happened to him is to follow the detective as he questions friends, family, and classmates and tries to piece together what really happened to Hilmer. The story suffers from choppiness that often accompanies translated text and characters that are primarily one dimensional, however, the storyline is intriguing and it is a short, quick read. The motion picture may peak interest among teen readers, however, the major differences between the two may disappoint readers.

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan

Teenage demi-God, Percy Jackson is back in the fourth installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Percy continues to battle the evil forces who want to resurrect the Titans and overthrow the Olympian Gods. This time, Percy must navigate an underground labyrinth and find the workshops of its creator, Daedalus, and convince him not to help Luke use the maze to invade Camp Half-Blood. Percy and his friends are going to need all the help that they can get, and find unlikely help in the form of a mortal girl who can see through mist. The non-stop action and wit are sure to appeal to a variety of teen readers, especially middle school boys, and will no disappoint series fans. Percy is a likeable character whose loyalty and determination will speak to many readers, as will his struggles with the fairer sex. A great blend of mythology and fantasy makes this series an interesting (and educational) read. The cliff-hanger ending will have them anxiously awaiting the next installment.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

In the future, Earth has been invaded by an alien life form called Souls, parasites who require a human body in order to survive. When Melanie, one of the few remaining human resistors, is captured Wanderer, a legend among her species, is inserted into Melanie's body. Wanderer finds, however, that unlike most hosts, Melanie refuses to fade away. As Wanderer and Melanie battle for control of the body they share, Wanderer becomes overwhelmed by Melanie's memories and emotions and becomes attached to the family Melanie left behind. Meyer has stepped away from the world of vampire romances and has created an intense romance of another kind. A wonderfully crafted and interesting cast of characters will engage the reader from the first page to the end. The perfect amount of suspense and tension will push readers through this monsterous 600+ page tale and leave them wanting more. Though published for adults, teen fans of Meyers will be clamoring for it- even teens who don't read science fiction. It is a great book for a discussion on relationships, humanity, and survival.