Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix (The Missing: Book 1)

    This children's science fiction book is filled with excitement! 13 year old Jonah was adopted as an infant and it never seemed to be a very big deal to him except that his parents always embarrassed him by telling the story of the 'miracle' of his arriving in their family.  Then Jonah starts receiving strange letters; the first one says "You are one of the missing." and the next one says "Beware! They're coming back to get you."  Jonah and his younger sister Katherine race against time to find the truth behind Jonah's adoption and stop a disastrous chain of events that could change history and/or alter the future.  This adventurous book deals with family and friendship struggles as well as mystery and time travel.  It was so much fun that I have already requested the sequel from the library (Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix.)

The Nubian Prince by Juan Bonilla

     I did not like this book but I must admit it was powerfully written and I could not put it down until I was finished.  It was not one of the fast-paced fairly easy young adult reads that I most enjoy but was a poetically written, translated from Spanish, bogged down with emotion, book about a truly disturbing topic.  The hero of the story, 22 year old Moises, is a scout for an elite international sex club. He roams the worlds most troubled sites to recruit men, women, and children for the club.  Moises tells himself that he is saving them from the disaster of their current lives but the truth of what he is doing really bothers him, and he struggles to come to terms with the truth.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

     This children's book is about 12 year old Catherine who copes admirably with the pressures of growing up.  She wants to fit in and have a handsome boyfriend and a best friend in her neighborhood to do normal 12 year old things with.  However, Catherine has an autistic brother who always causes a scene when she wants to blend in and a good friend, Jason, who is in a wheel chair and can't speak out loud.  She finds that denying her loved ones isn't the solution she is looking for and that embracing her relationships and her love of art are more promising solutions.  Catherine is a remarkable girl and a lovable character.  She helps her brother by writing rules for him such as "No toys in the fish tank" and "flush"and she helps Jason by writing word cards for his communication book.  She is almost too good to be true but the book is a wonderful story about standing up for what you believe in.

The Omega-3 Effect by William Sears, MD

After reading this book, I will definitely add more fish and omega-3's to my diet!  According to Dr. Sears (and many other experts whose research was used in this book), giving yourself an oil change means eating more omega-3 oils, less omega-6 oils, and very little hydrogenated oil.  The benefits of the oil change will be apparent by improvements all over the body.  It will improve cardiovascular function and help correct heart disease by preventing blood thickening and lowering blood pressure.  Omega-3's improve brain function and build better brain cells.  Omega-3's can even help prevent and improve neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and learning disorders.  There is a long list of other ailments that can be helped by this oil change and I have to say that it made me think of my Granny and her wisdom in forcing my mother and her siblings to take cod liver oil every day. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who would like to improve their overall health and health knowledge!

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

     High school nerd, Kate, is the medical trainer for the school's football team.  This will look great on her resume when she applies to medical school but also gives her a chance to be close to her crush, Aaron, the team's quarterback.  However, things soon turn unpleasant, and downright dangerous, when coach starts giving a strange and unlabeled drug to the team.  Kate is worried that the drugs are illegal steroids but it turns out to be much, much worse.  The players start turning into flesh eating monsters that threaten the safety of the whole town.  This is a fun, fast-paced read with some interesting twists in the plot.  I recommend it for teens who like some zombie action in their stories!

Prized by Caragh O'Brien

  

     This is the second book in the birthmarked trilogy.  Like the first book, it was filled with excitement and unexpected twists in the story.  Gaia, the 16 year-old heroine, proves to be as stubborn and resourceful as she was in the first book.  Gaia's midwifery skills allow her some acceptance into the town of Sylum, but in a town where there is a serious girl shortage (9 men to every woman), it is Gaia's appeal to the men of the town that gives her the most power there.  This was a very exciting book, it is probably best to read Birthmarked first to be familiar with the characters.

Pink by Lili Wilkinson

                   This is a great story about peer-pressure and wanting to fit in.  Ava is a cool black-wearing lesbian, but although she loves her eccentric family and her awesome girlfriend, she secretly wants to try being a girly-girl and wear pink.  When Ava transfers to a new school, she takes the chance to be a different person.  She wants to have a handsome boyfriend and fit in with the popular crowd but Ava soon digs herself into a mess by trying to live two separate lives.  Ava's girlfriend stirs up trouble and the kids at her new school don't appreciate being lied to.  This is a very well-written and exciting book!  Who hasn't tried to keep secret parts of their life?  I know I have, I definitely recommend Pink to teens everywhere!