Mediator: Darkest Power by Meg Cabot

Suze Simon, our favorite mediator, is forced to get a summer job: watching whiny eight-year-old Jack. While on the job, Suze finds out that Jack can also see ghosts. Suze helps him realize that the ghosts only want his help. Jack then gains more confidence which affects his brother Paul who asks Suze out on a date. She, however, rejects his offer because the only man on her mind is Jesse.

At home, Suze's stepfather and brother start to dig in their backyard and find letters addressed to Jesse from Maria de Silva, his supposed fiance. Problems occur when her ghost pops up and threatens Suze. Not wanting to worry Jesse, Suze stays quiet, only to find that Jesse doesn't show up when she calls him because Jack has exorcised him at Maria de Silva and her husband Feliz's request. Knowing there is only one way to get Jesse back, Suze tries to be exorcised herself.

Will Suze be able to save Jesse? Or will there be more obstacles like Paul in her way?
Meg Cabot's books are simply addicting.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

The Mediator: Reunion by Meg Cabot

Suze and Gina, her best friend from New York, go to the beach to soak up some sun. While there, they get thirsty and decide to head over to a market for some drinks. Suze, however, finds more as she sees four formally-attired ghosts. With research, she finds out the are the RLS Angels and that they were accidentally rammed into by Michael, another student. Now, with only revenge on their minds, they will do anything to get Michael to join them in death.

By trying to protect him, Suze gives Michael the impression that she likes him and wants to pursue a relationship with him. Doing more sleuthing, Suze discovers that Michael's sister is in a coma because of the RSL Angels.

Now that Suze knows the truth, what will happen when she confronts Michael? And what are those weird feeling she has for Jesse?

The third book of Meg Cabot's Mediator series is even more action-packed than the first two.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

The Mediator: The Ninth Key by Meg Cabot

Having a love life is practically impossible with a ghost hovering over Suze constatnly. Mediator Suze Simons is becoming more popular in school and has been invited to a pool party. While at the party, she meets and dances with Tad. Maybe her love life is starting to go in the right direction. However, later that night, a woman-ghost wakes her up screaming, "tell Red he didn't kill me."

Becoming curious about this Red character, Suze investigates and discovers a lead to Mr. Beaumont. Disguised as a school news reporter, she is able to get an appointment with him and tells him what the ghost said. He asks Suze what others have not--to contact the others he has killed. Luckily, she is able to escape and comes across Tad.

What does Tad do as the plot thickens? And will Jesse make more surprise appearances?  This second book in The Mediator series will keep you on your toes.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Mediator: Shadowland by Meg Cabot

Susannah Simon (Suze) packs up her bags and moves to California, thinking this will be her big break. Too bad for Suze that the thing or things she is running from wander back into her life--or better yet, her bedroom. Yes, Suze finds herself a smoking-hot boy in her room, but that's not the problem. The problem is, he's a ghost.

Suze is a mediator, a person who helps the dead move on. Ever since she was a little girl, she has gotten daily visits from ghosts who need her help; however, she has no ambition to help them. Luckily, this works out when Jesse, the hot ghost-boy in her bedroom says he doesn't need her help.

However, at her new school, she happens to come across a ghost who has only revenge on her mind and wants Suze gone. There goes the normal, peaceful life.

Watch Suze struggle through a new family, a new home, a new school, and a whole lot more ghosts.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan does a remarkable job with the audio-recorded book The Red Pyramid which follows the adventures of two children, Carter and Sadie, actual magicians who are bound to an organization called The House of Life. After their father releases the Egyptian god Set, the two embark on a dangerous journey to prevent the destruction of North America. Along the way, they make a few friends (and enemies) and discover a few bone-chilling secrets.

Guest review submitted by: MD

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Alex Flinn does a sterling job with a modern twist on another well-loved fairy tale--Sleeping Beauty--but instead of being asleep for about a day, Euphrasia is asleep for 300 years. Princess Talia pricks her finger on the spindle causing the curse of sleep. Three hundred years into the future, two teenaged boys excape from an educational trip and discover this long-lost kingdom. Jack is one of the boys who finds Talia. He is compelled by her beauty to kiss her. This kiss breaks the spell, and Talia awakens to find this oddly-dressed boy as her prince. Doing the only thing she can do, she follows him back to his home. Unfortunately for Talia, Jack thinks of her as a royal brat; plus, he can't seem to get his ex-girlfriend out of his mind. Talia only has about a month to get Jack to tell her he loves her, or she and the kingdom will be thrown back into an endless slumber.

Will Jack tell Talia he loves her, or will his ex-girlfriend win his love?

Guest review submitted by RAWR!

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Kyle Kingsbury had everything: money, perfect looks, the perfect girl, and the perfect life; however, there was one thing he didn't have--a heart. He tore everyone down; no one was as good as he. Kyle's story starts when he asks ugly-loser Kendra Hilferty to the school dance so he can play a prank on her when he shows up with his girlfriend. His plan goes well, but what Kendra says to him affects him the most. After the dance he finds Kendra at his house, waitng to put a curse on him. Kyle then turns into what his true nature is: a beast. With only two years to find true love and break the curse, Kyle finds it almost impossible until Lindy walks into his life.

Based on the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, this story has a modern day twist. After reading the book, the movie might also be of interest.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Old Magic by Marianne Curley

Two people bound by the same gift of magic, Kate and Jarrod, have two different thoughts. Kate believes in her powers and works with them while Jarrod thinks his talent is more hocus-pocus and lets his powers become unstable. When Jarrod transfers to Kate's class, she can sense his power but can't fully tap into his force field. Watching him practically blow up their class, Kate decides that she will learn more about him.

After confiding in him, the hardest task Kate has to accomplish is to make Jarrod realize that there is a curse on his family and that the only way to break it is to travel back in time and stop the spell from being cast.

In this book, Curley does a sterling job in helping the reader learn about true self.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson

What is the soundtrack of your life? For Callie Smith, songs trigger her memories--the good and the bad. She keeps a playlist of her memories in a song journal. Callie never stays in the same place for long. The men in her life--and her mother's life--leave as quickly as songs change on her ipod, so their move to Andreas Bay, California, has no impact on her besides adding a new song on her playlist.

As school starts, new friends--one of them a boy with a secret--sneak their way into her life. When things seem to be on track in her life, her family routine seems to fall into place; however, Callie is torn over what may be her first chance to love.

With all that she is hiding and all that she wants, can she find something lasting beyond music? Will she discover what she and her mother have been running from?

Every teen will relate to Callie and will practically hear the music playing in the background.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Royal Blood by Ellen Schreiber

In the sixth book of Vampire Kisses, Raven and Alexander are still together with a little stronger relationship, but things are about to get more complicated. Raven has to go back to school, and Alexander's parents are coming back hom from their travels. With bubbling excitement, Raven is ready to meet his parents. They hit it off instantly, but Alexander's parents are wanting to move to Romania, and they insist that Alexander go with them.  Raven and Alexander put their minds together to devise a plan to keep him in Dullesville.

Grab this book and enjoy the unfolding of this most interesting plot

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

The Coffin by Ellen Schreiber

Once again Alexander leaves Dullsville for some urgent business. Unable to stay away from him for too long, Raven goes to the one place where he might be--Hipsterville. While staying  there with her aunt, Raven starts to investigate--which leads her to The Coffin Club. Thinking it's a club for vampire wannabes, Raven starts to leave when she finds a secret passageway leading her to something unexpected: real vampires. While trying to blend in with the night-wanderers, Raven sees the one person she never wants to set eyes on again--Jagger. Trying to avoid him, she runs into a new vampire, Phoenix, who seems oddly familiar.

What is Jagger's ultimate plan? Why is Phoemix so familiar? And will Alexander ever return? All of these questions will be unlocked in Schreiber's humorous fifth book.

Guest review submitted by RAWR!

Dance with a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber

Finally, with Jasper and Luna gone, Raven and Alexander can be together without interruptions. That is, until Jasper and Luna's little brother Valentine comes to town and annoys Raven's little brother Billy. It seems that Raven's relationship with her boyfriend is always troublesome.
Will this cause a separation? What does Valentine want with Billy? When will Raven and Alexander have peace?

This fourth book of Schreiber's is a never-ending ride which will keep your eyes glued to the page.


Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Vampireville by Ellen Schreiber

Reunited with her vampire boyfriend, Raven tries to succeed in doing what normal teenage couples do. This all backfires when evil vampire Jagger's twin sister Luna makes a visit to Dullsville. Luna, Jagger, and Alexander have a past together, and Luna and Jagger are back for revenge. In addition, Jagger wants to turn Raven into a vampire to make her love only him. But how does Trevor Mitchell, popular soccer dweeb, fit into this equation?
Jump into this hilarious third book of Vampire Kisses where surprises lurk at every corner.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Kissing Coffins (Vampire Kisses 2) by Ellen Schreiber

Girl meets boy; girl falls in love with boy; boy turns out to be a vampire. The second book of Vampire Kisses shows Alexander and Raven going strong until Alexander leaves Dullsville. The last contact Raven has with him is a note saying that he is coming to meet her. Unfortunately, Alexander doesn't say when, and Raven decides to do her own detective work. While unwinding the mystery, she gets herself into some shady business.

Will Alexander be there in time to save her? And who is this Jaggar guy, and what does he want with Alexander? Find out by joining in on the adventure of Vampire Kisses.

Guest review by: RAWR!

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Since she was a child, Goth-girl Raven Madison has had an obsession with vampires. In fact, her ready answer to what she wanted to be when she grew up was, in fact, "to become a vampire." In the small, boring town of Dullsville, the only excitement was the old abandoned Benson Hill Mansion.  When a new family moves into the mansion on Raven's sixteenth birthday, the rumor starts circulating that they are vampires. Raven decides that she will break into the mansion and investigate. Sadly, her technique fails and she is caught by the gorgeous Goth-guy, Alexander.

This book is the first in a series by Schreiber and is so good, you will want to read them all.

Guest review by: RAWR!

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Adopted seventeen-year-old Lucy discovers a secret about her birth mother and the generations that came before her: there is a curse upon the family. However, Lucy has something that the past generations did not--a family to watch her back and Zack, the boy she is in love with. However, she and Zack must overcome an age-old evil, or they will fall into the same trap as the ones who have gone before.

Inspired by the ballad "Scarborough Fair," the book will touch your heart.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Everyone wants to be accepted and have loads of friends in high school. Sometimes, wishing is all one can do--just like Melinda Sordino. The summer before her high school career, once-popular Melinda attended a high school party where tragedy struck. She had to call the cops, and now everyone hates her--even her best friend.

In this gripping novel, Melinda tries to find her voice to speak out against the hatred she encounters.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

In this sequel, the supernatural group is in a safe haven away from the Edison Group. Chloe can now develp her powers, better control them, and sort out her feelings for a certain werewolf. The adventure does not stop here because one of the people who is protecting them may be a traitor.

How will these young powerful teenagers deal with this, and will they every have their happily ever after?

This is the best book of the "must read" Darkest Powers Trilogy. It will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride until the very last sentence.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

The second book of the Darkest Powers Trilogy gets even more exciting. Chloe and her gang of supernaturals are still on the run from the Edison Group. Now that her Aunt Lauren is part of the group that is trying to "cure" her, Chloe doesn't know who to trust.

Find out if Chloe makes it out alive or dies trying.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders believes she is just a normal fifteen-year-old girl until she sees a ghost at her school. Unfortunately, Chloe is not only expelled from school because she is different, she is also shipped off to Lyle House, a special place for troubled teens where her housemates have abnormal abilities just like she does. As Chloe digs deeper into the Lyle House records, she finds that officials are hiding important information about her housemates, herself, and previous tenants who have died.

Unravel the mystery of the dark side in this first book of the Darkest Powers trilogy. You won't be able to wait for the second.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Werewolves do not exist...or do they? Grace Brisbane has watched a pack of wolves in the forest behind her house ever since being attacked by a few of them six years before. During the attack, she never attempted to defend herself; she just watched as they tried to rip her apart. She thought she was a goner until one wolf with yellow eyes stopped the others. Since then, she has kept an eye on her savior who disappears with the pack every summer but always returns in the winter.

In her town, the wolf attacks start to increase, and the townsmen go into the forest to kill the wolves. This is when Grace finds a young man with yellow eyes who is bleeding to death from a bullet wound. No doubt, he is her savior.

Shiver is a suspenseful struggle from the beginning.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Terra Cooper, born with a port-wine birthmark covering half of her face, was known as "the girl with that thing on her face." After dealing with it for her whole life, she decides to undergo laser surgery to have it fixed. Everyone, including her mother and her boyfriend, tell her what a great idea that is. Then she meets Jacob, a Chinese boy who had a similar experience when he was younger.

Join Terra and Jacob on their journey through life--and China--as they find the true meaning of beauty, which Headly describes perfectly in this novel. It will hook you from the start.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

Told in poems, this tragic story reveals the life of a young teenage girl, Anke, who sits back and watches her abusive father hurt both her siblings and her mother. Anke feels as if no one loves her and that she has no importance in life until she joins the school's volleyball team. Here, Anke gains the courage to speak up.

This book will grab your attention and keep you wanting more.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

True Grit by Charles Portis

Fourteen-year-old Mattie Boss leaves her home in Arkansas and goes on an adventure to find the man who killed her dad. Plenty of twists and turns add humor to this  dramatic tale. See what happens to Mattie when she finds that she may be the killer's next target.

Those who are not fans of Westerns will still adore this novel. Join Mattie in her quest to find her father's murderer.

Guest review submitted by: RAWR!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre is one of those books that everyone should read in high school and then pick up later to re-read and enjoy. It is the classic love story between a poor, downtrodden female with an independent streak who falls in love with a man of means. The language is beautiful; the plot, full of mystery and passion.

If you like mysteries and romance, you won't be disappointed. If you read it in high school, you need to become re-acquainted.

The Confession by John Grisham

In The Confession, John Grisham makes a valid case for abolishing the death penalty through the character of Donte Drumm, the town's star football player who sits on death row for the murder of a cheerleader nine years before--a murder which he did not commit. The story revolves around the race to save his life when the real murderer comes forward and confesses to a preacher who lives several states away. Allowing the reader to see what goes on behind the scenes in preparation for a lethal injection and in the court appeals process, the story also reveals the racial prejudices in a small Texas town where the condemned is black and the victim white.

Grisham does an excellent job of creating suspense and leaves readers with many questions about the Texas penal systerm.

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch and Lee Chadeayne

The Hangman's Daughter centers around a small German town's executioner, explaining how he is born into the job and how he protects not only his family but also the innocent. The title is a bit misleading; the book is not gruesome, but it offers a great history lesson.

This English translation was free on Kindle e-books for a while, making it a bargain as well.

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

In Snow Falling on Cedars, David Guterson tells a story on many levels. On one, he relates a beautiful story of the love between an American boy and a Japanese girl which takes place during the World War II internment of Japanese-Americans. On another, his plot provides an element of mystery:  it begins with the murder trial of a Japanese-American fisherman. Lastly, the reader receives Guterson's tremendous insight into Americans' feelings throughout this time period.

The book is long by many high schoolers' standards and moves slowly in some places, but the character development and descriptions are worth the time. Be advised that it contains a fairly explicit sex scene.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

In Heaven is for Real, author Todd Burpo relates the "out of body" experience his son has during emergency surgery. Allowing the boy to tell much of the story via their father-son conversations, the preacher Burpo paints a beautiful, but fairly traditional view of heaven.

The book is inspirational and uplifting with a clear message: Heaven is the place to be.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Lisbeth Salander, one of the main characters of the novel, is not a typical do-gooder because of her punk style and dragon tattoo; however, she  helps Mikael Blomkvist (an atypical journalist charged with libel) investigate the disappearance of Henrik Vanger's grand niece. With her excellent computer hacking skills and his interest in finding answers, Salander and Blomkvist look into the Vanger family's secrets and find  a very complex story.

The book contains violence against women and sexual encounters, adding to the intricate plot.

The Girl Who played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

The Girl Who played with Fire is the second book in Stieg Larsson's triology.  Pubisher Mikael Blomkvist once again becomes entangled with Lisbeth Salander, who is accused of three murders. The plots twists around Sweden's sex trafficing laws and Salander's past life.

This book moves slower than the other two, but still provides quite a maze through which the reader can navigate.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

In Larsson's last book before his death, his reliable female character, Lisbeth Salander, wakes up in a coma, and once again, trusts Mikael Blomkvist to help her discover who has shot her and her father, a Soviet defector in the Swedish security force. Blomkvist and Salander communicate mostly on-line to take care of the evil forces at work around them.

Like Larsson's other two books, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest contains a plot so well-woven the novel is hard to put down.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen volunteers for a sure death sentence to protect her sister and her country in this futuristic novel. She must fight friends and enemies in front of a live television audience in the Hunger Games--a competition which is a fight to the death.

Even those who are not fans of science fiction will have a hard time putting down the novel. The plot is detailed, and Katniss's character is fully developed, making for an exciting reading experience.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Told in a flashback, Jacob Jankowski's story details his experiences as part of a circus family during the Depression years. Through all of life's twists and turns, he not only becomes a protector for his adopted circus family and for the mistreated animals but also manages to fall in love with Marlena, one of the star performers.

This novel has a little of everything: action, romance, and intrigue.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Imagine your friends and your parents being  disappointed because you came home from college with a degree but no husband. This perfectly describes Skeeter, one of the main characters of The Help. At the peak of the Civil Rights movement, Skeeter tells the world what is really happening behind the closed doors of households in Jackson, Mississippi.

On a personal note, reading the book reminded me of my childhood in the fifties. Because my divorced mom worked full-time, she hired a maid to care for my brother, sister, and me. I now wonder what tales her community heard about our family.

The Help highlights the shame of America's racism and is considered by some to be a new classic.