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TRAFFICKED by Kim Purcell
Seventeen-year-old Hannah leaves her grandmother in Moldova for a job and better opportunities in the U.S., but the family she cleans and nannies for is not what they were built up to be and she wonders if she made the right decision to leave home. I could not put this YA that deals with harsh realities down. It was like a non-fairy tale version of Cinderella that had me cheering for Hannah every step of the way. (Viking, 2012)

NOWHERE GIRL by A. J. Paquette
Thirteen-year-old Luchi only knows life in a Thai prison where she was born to a mother who was afraid of the outside world, but when her mother dies she sets out to find a life, family, and freedom. The writing in this upper-MG novel is beautiful, Luchi is brave, and the story is unique. A very nice read. (Walker, 2011)

STAY WITH ME by Paul Griffin
Mack's been in trouble with the law before, when his rage gets the best of him, but training dogs always sets him straight and so does Cece; Cece's smart and eats her way through the stress of her alcoholic mom and enlisted brother, but being with Mack makes her happy; then a dog is killed and their love spirals into tragedy that may not be salvagable. The dialog, voice, and characters are spot on; and the storytelling is compelling. It shows that sometimes right and wrong are not black and white, and offers hope for those who may on the outset seem to have none. Great edgy YA. (Dial, 2011)

PRETTY AMY by Lisa Burstein
On prom night, Amy and her two popular friends are stood up and end up with a bag of pot and a run-in with the cops, which gets Amy thinking about her friendships and relationships with her family and how she fits into her life. I liked the portrayal of Amy as the high school teen who isn't bad or trouble, but who makes some peer-pressured decisions so it's easier and easier to make the choice to "give up" until something snaps a change in the cycle. A nice, gritty YA from a new publisher. (Entangled, 2012)

TOUCHED by Cyn Balog
Nick has the same horrible power as his mother: he can see his future path and do little to change it; then he meets Taryn who knows about his Touch and he believes she is the only one who can cure it, but there is more to her story and place in his life. This is another unique paranormal romance by CB, with twists and rules to the world that make it stand out on the shelves. The ending is unpredictable and satisfying. (Delacorte, August 2012)

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness
Professor Diana Bishop is a witch who resists her powers in a world also inhabited by humans, daemons, and vampires, but when she calls up a magical old book from an Oxford library, vampire Matthew Clairmont takes an interest in her and soon Diana is forced to face who she is in order to survive. While I have read enough vampire novels in the past eight years, my coworkers said that this adult novel was fun and entertaining; it was though it was also a lot like TWILIGHT in my opinion, and I will recommend it to older teens looking for more books like that series. It also ended on a total seque into the next book in the series without really finalizing anything that was learned in book one. Overall, this is a well-written adult paranormal romance. (Viking, 2011)

FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick
Since she was six-years-old, high school junior London Lane forgets everything she knew overnight and can only "remember" future events which leads her to investigate her estranged father, secretive mother, and how her new boyfriend Luke feels so familiar. The second book in this series was just released, which is good for fans since this book number one doesn't really have any concrete conclusions to any of the plot lines. Instead bigger mysteries about her family and Luke's future are looming. I liked the premise of this book, but had a hard time figuring out the "rules" to London's condition. A different twist on a "girl with powers" YA novel. (Little, Brown, 2011)

OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN by Donna Gephart
Twelve-year-old Olivia is obsessed with trivia and Jeopardy and is determined to get onto Kid's Week in her last eligible year so she can see her dad in California for the first time in twoyears, and is determined to win the cash prize to help her family's money problems. Olivia's actions with her neighbor and family feel real, and her little brother is very well drawn. I really enjoyed this contemporary MG. (Delacorte, 2012)

READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline
In 2045, high school senior Wade, aka Parzival, is obsessed with escaping into OASIS, a virtual reality world, where he plans to solve the 1980s pop culture clues and puzzles left by the late OASIS developer so he will be the first to inherit the mogul's millions. The '80s movie, music, and video game references were great, and the virutal reality world created by EC is immersive and feels like it could be real in only a few years. I enjoyed this treasure hunt, the other avatars/characters, and the ending. A great Alex Award winner for adults and upper teens. (Crown, 2011)

THE WATCH THAT ENDS THE NIGHT by Allan Wolf
Told in verse from the points-of-view of the people, ship itself, and the iceberg, to name a few of those involved, this novel meshes together true facts, real people, and a close to accurate timeline of the Titanic's maiden voyage and sinking. I loved the way this novel was woven together, as well as the chosen povs of the crew, and 1st class, 2nd class, and 3rd class passengers, all with personal stories of their own. The author's notes are equally fascinating and make the reader think about this huge ship and the circumstances that made it go down and why so many lives were lost. (Candlewick, 2011)

#81
SISTERS DON'T TELL

Query pitch paras:

Sixteen-year-old Melanie Mainer is not the pretty sister. Or the popular one. She's also not the pregnant one.

After wishing for the past three years that she and her fifteen-year-old adopted sister Annie were close again, Mel loses all hope when Annie spills that she's knocked up. Mel should be supportive, but instead she's: a) embarrassed that Annie could make such a mistake, b) jealous that Annie is having sex while Mel hasn’t even kissed a guy, and c) embarrassed that she's jealous. But Mel stuffs her feelings inside and throws herself into cooking new recipes and hanging with her best friend, while quietly hoping Annie will have an abortion so life can go back to pseudo normal.

Then Mel starts dating Kevin, the first guy ever to think she’s special and to make her feel that way too. But it doesn't take long for her sister secrets to fill their relationship with little lies. And when Annie drops another bomb, Mel’s afraid she’ll lose Kevin if she keeps the secret, or lose her sister if she doesn’t. Her only other choice is to stay true to herself, something she hopes she can remember how to do on her own.

First 250 manuscript words:

I check my watch. She’s five minutes late. And counting.

A group of band kids jostles me with their instrument cases as they shove through the main school doors. They don’t give me a second glance or apologize.

Seven minutes.

A couple makes out at the water fountain right next to me, slurping each others’ tongues so loudly they could be mistaken for hungry canines, before parting for their rides home.

Ten minutes.

The last bell of the day rings, the one signaling that the buses are leaving.

Where the heck is Annie? I want her to need me again, but I also want her to be on time.

I balance my social studies book on my knee, sneaking in some studying for finals to give me something to do. A pack of seniors, shrieking with laughter on their way out the front doors, gives me a once over. I shift my weight and try to blend in with the trophy case. Being seen hanging by yourself in my high school is as cool as when your 50-year-old teacher says she has your same pair of shoes. That was a day of freshman year I’ll never forget.

Fourteen minutes.

Fifteen.

“Mel! I’m sorry!”

I blow my bangs from my forehead as Annie hurries from the sophomore wing. Her ballet flats pad across the scuffed floor, and her black shiny hair flutters from her head like a silk veil. It’s got to be 100 degrees and super humid and Annie is flawless.
###

CURVEBALL: THE YEAR I LOST MY GRIP by Jordan Sonnenblick
Star junior high baseball pitcher Peter is ready to be a big shot his freshman year, but an elbow injury changes his plans and makes him pay attention to his grandfather, his camera, a new girlfriend, and new options for his future. Like all of JS's books, his main character has depth, heart, and humor; and the supporting characters are witty, present, and important. Another great YA with MG crossover potential that is much more than a sports book. (Scholastic, 2012)