Unleashed by Kristopher Reisz

Daniel carries the heavy burden of his family’s expectations for his future. He has good grades, but his SAT scores are not high enough to get him into Cornell, so his parents have him classified as ADD just to get additional time on the test. He gains admission to Cornell, but he begins to resent the pressures that his parents have placed on him. When he meets Misty, a wild and dangerous biracial girl, whose attitude intrigues him. As they begin dating, Misty introduces him to her pack- her group of friends who each night eat magic mushrooms and transforms into wolves who roam the city marking their territory. As the pack begins to spend more and more time as wolves, their humanity slips further out of reach until Daniel must decide between his new friends and his place in the pack and what he believes is right. Reisz has crafted a sharp urban fantasy that’s dark undertones is certain to appeal to teen readers.

Snitch by Allison van Diepen

Julia DiVino avoids the gangs who rule her school and has remained neutral, even though she has several friends who are members of other gangs. Things change, however, when Julia begins dating Eric Valiente, the new guy at school, who decides to join the Flatbush Junction Crips. Julia dumps him for lying to her, but when her friend Marie, a member of a Bloods affiliate, tells her that the Bloods are planning to jump Eric that night, she can’t help but warn him. With that, Julia finds her neutral status among the gangs destroyed and she is forced to join the Crips for protection. As the battle between the gangs escalates, it becomes apparent that Eric is not what he seems. Van Diepen has created another harsh and realistic look at the lives of urban teens. Gang life is neither villianize nor glamorized- the violence, drugs, and danger of gang lifestyles is contrasted by the familial nature of the gang.

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Stories by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms a small town and impacts the lives of several teenagers in the community. Johnson, Green, and Myracle weave interconnected stories that share the spirit of the holidays with a blend of romance. The conclusion wraps each of the stories up nicely and will leave readers feeling warm and cozy.

Kin, Book 1: The Good Neighbors by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh

After Rue’s mother disappears, her father is charged with her murder and the murder of one of his students. Rue, who has recently begun to see unusual things, believes that there is something odd going on. As she begins to investigate, she discovers that her mom is really a faerie, who has returned to the faerie realm because of a broken promise. In order to save her mother, Rue must fight a dark faerie who threatens the moral realm. Black has created a storyline that is certain to appeal to fans of her novels. Naifeh’s dark and sinister illustrations beautifully complement the text. This reader can’t help but wish they were done in color however because I think they would really pop off the page. It seems like readers are going to have to wait quite awhile for the next installment, which will be frustrating for readers who will want to find out immediately what happens next.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the future, in that area that was once North America, the nation of Panem exists with its Capitol that dictates every aspects of life in the surrounding districts by harsh and cruel means. One of the worst punishments inflicted upon the districts following a failed rebellion is The Hunger Games, a reality game that is in essence a fight to the death and one boy and one girl from each District must compete in the games each year. Sixteen-year-old Katniss dreads the day of the reaping because each year the number of slips containing her name that go into ball from which the contestants are drawn grows. This is the first year that Katniss’ younger sister Prim is eligible to compete, however, Katniss does not worry about her chances as she has refused to allow her sister to accept food and grains that would earn her additional slips. When Prim’s name is the one that is drawn from the ball, Katniss finds herself volunteering to go in her sister’s place. Katniss is saddened when the male contestant ends up being Peeta, a young man who Katniss credits with her life because she knows that the odds of even one of them surviving against competitors from other districts who have been training for this moment their entire lives is slim.

The Hunger Games is a powerful and gripping novel that is tense and dramatic. Katniss’ fight to retain her humanity as she struggles to remain alive will captivate readers. The graphic violence and the overall horribleness of the situation make this story not for the feint of heart. The relationship between Peeta and Katniss make the plot even more difficult for readers and it brings up very difficult and thought-provoking questions that will keep readers thinking long after the book is finished. Readers who make it to the end will anxiously await the forthcoming sequels.

Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

Pierce returns to the Circle Universe (The Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens quartets) to follow Evvy, the young stone mage from Street Magic. Evvy is traveling with two Winding Circle mages Rosethorn and Myrrhtide to the Battle Islands to see if they can discover why plants and animals on the Islands are dying for no apparent reason. Evvy hates traveling by sea and once she arrives on land begins to act out, unable to control her behavior. It is Evvy’s talking rock Luvo, a living heart of a mountain, who is able to help Evvy identify the source of the problem on the Island, an active volcano that is getting ready to burst.

Melting Stones is the first novel written for publication as an audio novel. While not Pierce’s finest novel, it is certain to be popular with fans that are anxious to return to the Circle Universe and who have been wondering what became of the feisty stone mage. The plot leans toward predictable and tends to drag, but Evvy’s strong narration and spirited personality will keep readers interested until the end.

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

Following the attacks of September 11th, Robin Perry feels compelled to join the army. Having completed basic training, Robin is headed off to Iraq as a part of a Civil Affairs Unit. Robin struggles with the war, as he has a difficult time figuring out who exactly they are supposed to be fighting. Robin’s narrative is broken up by letters home to his parents, who he shields from the reality of war, and to his uncle Ritchie whose experiences in Vietnam (in Myer’s Fallen Angels) connect the two men. Myers creates another novel that depicts the harsh realities of the war. Its contemporary setting and feel will connect with today’s teens. Sunrise Over Fallujah would be the perfect book for discussion in a current events or social studies class.

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica Packwood has a plan for getting a life during her senior year of high school, but when a bizarre exchange student from Romania arrives she finds her life changing in impossible ways. Lucius Vladescu not only claims that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess but also that he is her fiancé. This is not what Jessica had in mind for her future, but soon she finds herself increasingly drawn to the handsome stranger and as she embraces her vampire identity, she discovers that the fate of her family depends on her.

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is a perfect read for Twilight Saga fans looking for a new vampire to fall in love with, Lucius won’t disappoint. Jessica is a likeable typical teenage girl with a feisty personality and fierce determination. Engaging characters and an interesting plot make this a surefire hit that teens won’t want to put down.