Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/25/2013
ISBN-13: 9781416978763
ISBN-10: 1416978763

Historical Fiction. In this atmospheric novel, the tension and turbulence of the 1947 partition of Pakistan and India springs to "bloody, poignant life" (Kirkus Reviews) through the first-person stories of three teens: Tariq, an ambitious Muslim desperate for a university education in England; Margaret, a spoiled British girl with a scandalous past; and Anupreet, a Sikh maid just hoping to survive during uncertain times. Readers will be caught up in the lives of all three richly drawn characters as they're confronted with tough decisions about their relationships and their futures. For another look at social and political change in India, check out Keeping Corner, by Kashmira Sheth.

Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/27/2013
ISBN-13: 9780062026545
ISBN-10: 0062026542

Fantasy. The Godstone embedded in her navel marked her at birth as a heroine, and now Queen Elisa must live up to her long-foretold destiny. In the final book of the Fire and Thorns trilogy, Elisa is determined to rescue her beloved Hector from the fiery Inviernos, as well as protect her kingdom from both invasion and treachery. Though she's gained strength, courage, and magical ability, Elisa realizes that to meet the challenges of leadership, she needs her "only lasting power": her intelligence. For more high-stakes action, powerful female characters, and intricate world-building, check out Kristin Cashore's Seven Kingdoms trilogy, starting with Graceling.

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/03/2013
ISBN-13: 9781442482548
ISBN-10: 1442482540

Science Fiction. El Patrón is dead, which makes his 14-year-old clone Matteo the new Lord of the country of Opium. Matt has been reclassified as human, but he still has to cure the other clones (mind-controlled "eejits" who provide Opium's slave labor), as well as dismantle Opium's drug trade and plant new crops to revitalize Earth's ravaged environment. Fans of sophisticated science fiction will be captivated by the "electric blend of horrors and beauty" (Publishers Weekly) in this wildly imaginative, morally complex vision of the future. Because this sequel (10 years in the making!) builds on events from the first book, readers should start at the beginning with The House of the Scorpion.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/23/2013
ISBN-13: 9781442412644
ISBN-10: 144241264X

Fiction. Vee Crawford-Wong can't seem to get it together. He's not good at school, or at basketball, or at getting hot senior Adele to notice him. And even though he's obsessed with learning his family history, his Chinese dad and Texan mom won't tell him anything. So Vee takes matters into his own hands and forges a letter from China, never guessing just how far the deception will go. Vee's questionable judgment and realistically raw humor will make you laugh and cringe in equal measure as his lies lead him all the way to China, and (hopefully) the truth. If you're looking for more teens caught between cultures, check out American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/27/2013
ISBN-13: 9780062217134
ISBN-10: 0062217135

Fiction. Ezra Faulkner's social life and tennis career both end abruptly when his leg is severely injured in a car accident. Rejected by college recruiters and by his popular friends, Ezra joins the debate team, where he reconnects with his old friend Toby and falls hard for brilliant, mysterious new girl Cassidy. But even as Cassidy shakes up Ezra's life and opens his mind, it's clear that she's still dealing with damage caused by the tragedy in her own past. With smart, snarky dialogue and vivid emotional intensity, this bittersweet and beautifully written debut novel is a must-read for fans of John Green.

If you can't wait for the sequel to Rick Yancey's bestselling The 5th Wave, or you're excited about the Ender's Game movie in November, these books about aliens will make you laugh, make you think, and maybe even keep you up at night.

Publisher: Random House
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/25/2012
ISBN-13: 9780375969461
ISBN-10: 0375969462

Science Fiction. Recon Team Angel is ready to take back the Earth from the Bzadians. The aliens might control most of the planet, but the six teens on the elite military squad have been expertly trained and surgically modified (forked tongues and all) to pass as Bzadians and infiltrate the alien base in Australia. Each team member has their own particular strengths -- but only one of them is a traitor. If you like fast-paced adventures or Call of Duty-style military games, you'll enjoy the sharp dialogue, explosive action, and shocking twists of Assault. Follow this series debut with its sequel, Task Force.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Chronicle Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/08/2011
ISBN-13: 9780811874601
ISBN-10: 0811874605

Humorous Science Fiction. David, the 14-year-old son of a famous French psychologist, isn't sure whether he believes that Zelda, his father's new patient, is an alien warrior on a mission to kidnap her chosen mate and take him to the planet Vahalal. But David is sure that he'd do anything to help Zelda -- maybe she'll pick him as runner-up if the abduction fails -- and soon finds himself tearing through Paris on a desperate and increasingly violent search for Zelda's chosen one...Johnny Depp. Short, action-packed, and hilarious, this wild and wooly adventure is a great pick for those who like their science fiction served silly-side-up.

Publisher: Little, Brown
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/18/2012
ISBN-13: 9780316197960
ISBN-10: 0316197963

Science Fiction. In the chaos following a series of plane crashes caused by flocks of kamikaze birds, 17-year-old Reese and her debate team partner, David, are in a serious car accident and receive medical treatment at a military hospital in Arizona. No one will tell them the details of what happened or how they've been healed...but after they get back home to San Francisco, both of them suspect that they've undergone something more than standard medical procedures. With bizarre happenings, clandestine government agents, X-Files-esque intrigue, and even a bit of romance, Adaptation will fascinate conspiracy theorists and thriller fans alike. Don't forget to check out the sequel, Inheritance.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/28/2010
ISBN-13: 9780763647513
ISBN-10: 0763647519

Science Fiction. In most stories about humans and aliens, the aliens are the invaders. But in the Chaos Walking trilogy, it's humans who have invaded the home planet of the alien Spackle. This final volume of the trilogy looks at the horrors of war not just through the eyes of humans Todd and Viola, but also from the perspective of a reluctant Spackle leader called 1017. Readers willing to tackle this epic read will be riveted by a powerful, thought-provoking tale of agonizing choices, shattering violence, and hard-won redemption. Newcomers to the series, however, should begin with the 1st book, The Knife of Never Letting Go.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/12/2010
ISBN-13: 9780763643843
ISBN-10: 076364384X

Science Fiction. "It takes less time for them to conquer the world than it takes me to brush my teeth." Most of the human race is destroyed instantly when the Sanginians invade. Jesse is among the surviving humans, who've been kept as slaves because they can understand the aliens' telepathic communications. But when Jesse's power starts to develop beyond telepathy, he knows the time has come to make his escape. Serious sci-fi themes get a "provocative, profound, and wickedly funny" (The Horn Book) twist in this exciting, suspenseful story and its recently released sequel, Homicidal Aliens and Other Disappointments. For more talented teens rebelling against their alien overlords, try Icons by Margaret Stohl.