The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
Hamburger Halpin has had to transfer from his school for the deaf to a mainstream high school. Sitting at the side of class so that he can read the teachers' lips does not help to push him up the popularity scale. Instead, he retreats into his own skull and delivers a hilarious picture of his classmates' desperate drive for popularity. And...he manages to help solve a mystery along the way. A great read!
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
"Foundling Fever Crumb has been raised as an engineer although females in the future London, England, are not believed capable of rational thought, but at age fourteen she leaves her sheltered world and begins to learn startling truths about her past while facing danger in the present." (NoveList)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
"Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead." (NoveList)
Graceling by Kirsten Cashore
"In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king." (NoveList)
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
In this very popular and award-winning novel, seventeen-year-old Taylor Markham struggles with her self-confidence and identity at her Australian boarding school after being abandoned by her drug-addicted mother.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Fleeing from some terrifying pursuers, Aaron, his dog, and Viola embark upon an extraordinary and dangerous adventure. Will they find the answers to their colony's dark past and will they be able to warn the spaceship full of new hopeful settlers of the dangers lurking in their new world? A gripping read that might keep you awake all night!
The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson
"Seventeen-year-old Destiny keeps a painful childhood secret all to herself until she and three classmates from her exclusive boarding school take off on an unauthorized road trip in search of "one fair day.". (NoveList)
Paper Towns by John Green
This sometimes hilarious novel deals with mostly-bored high school senior Quentin's midnight adventure with his alluring but mysterious neighbour Margo Roth Spiegelman and her subsequent disappearance. This novel asks a great many "big" questions forces Quentin to reassess much of what he thought he knew about himself and others. A wonderful read by a very popular and thought-provoking author.
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
"When witch-in-training Tiffany Aching accidentally interrupts the Dance of the Seasons and awakens the interest of the elemental spirit of Winter, she requires the help of the six-inch-high, sword-wielding, sheep-stealing Wee Free Men to put the seasons aright." (NoveList)
Yellow Flag by Robert Lipsyte
Seventeen-year-old Kyle is not happy when he is pressured to replace his injured brother Kyle as driver of the family's race car. He'd much rather continue playing his trumpet and forget the whole NASCAR scene. However, he proves to be a very talented driver and is captured by the track, from the thrill of the race to the groupies and his growing fame. He now has to decide what his future will be. If you love cars, you'll love this book!
Zenith by Julie Bertagna. (Sequel to Exodus)
16-year-old Mara continues her quest for a safe haven in a world that is almost completely underwater due to the melting of the polar ice caps. She must lead a boatload refugees north to try to find safety in Greenland. None of the passengers is prepared for the horror that awaits them. A gripping read.