The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a half-buried photograph of a smiling young woman in the desert in Iraq, he carries it with him and soon discovers that it brings him luck in games and during combat; after returning to Colorado, his obsession with the picture leads him in a fateful search for what may be the love of his life.

This was a fun read. Yes, it's a sappy love story--but that is great to read occassionally. It was typical Nicholas Sparks--sure to please his many teenage fans. The ending was unexpected; but it tied up loose ends nicely.

Rating: 8 of 10

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Eighteen-year-old Danielle grew up learning how to steal from her mother, and the two have spent their lives traveling around and targeting wealthy homes, but in the beach town of Heaven, when Dani realizes her new friend's home is actually her next target and her potential boyfriend is a police officer, she must try to hide her true identity.

This is a great read about a girl who wants to change but isn't sure she can. I thought the ending might be just a little too good to believe; but, the conflict between what the girl wants and what she knows her mother expects of her is very well done. I think my high school girls will like it for the love story.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Seventeen-year-old Pattyn, the eldest daughter in a large Mormon family, is sent to her aunt's Nevada ranch for the summer where she temporarily escapes her alcoholic, abusive father and finds love and acceptance, only to lose everything when she returns home.

This is a book teenage girls will love. It is very sad and contains powerful scenes of first lust and first love (not the same thing!). The novel in verse concept is very good at making every word count. The abusive father graphically shows how some families have very difficult home situations that they do not let the "outside" world know about.

Rating: 8 out of 10...maybe even a 9

The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis

After the death of the stern aunt who raised them since they were orphaned, eleven-year-old Sallie and her fifteen-year-old sister escape their self-serving guardians and begin an adventure resembling those in the dime novels Sallie loves to read.

What's not to like? Plucky young girls under dire circumstances who are trying to find a new life for themselves...the ending was too quick, it just didn't feel right; however, the book was a fun read. Unfortunately, I don't think any of my high school students will ever read (or like) this book.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Sara's Face by Melvin Burgess

Seventeen-year-old Sara wants so much to be famous that when a legendary, plastic-surgery-addicted rock star offers to take her under his wing and pay for her to have surgery too, she jumps at the chance despite her misgivings.

This is one weird book...written in part like a fan magazine. The point of view keeps jumping around and it was impossible to get a real view of Sara...which was probably the point. Strange...too strange for me to really like it and very creepy. Very much a modern horror story in a medical way.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Jennifer Government by Max Barry

This is an Abe Book this year; I doubt if it wins, but it is thought provoking. In it's way, it seemed like a spin off the old classic 1984. As I was reading it, I kept thinking that it seemed like it should be a movie...one of those over-the-top farces. This is not my favorite book; I don't know that I even liked it; but satire probably isn't something that I enjoy reading. Rating: 7 out of 10.

Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst

What a great read...Civil War story, destitute family under terrible circumstances being held together by the oldest sister (who isn't very old), terrible living conditions...makes Gone With the Wind look like a good-time book! I guess I had never thought about the refuge camps during Civil War time. I really liked the main character who was trying to do the right thing even though it wasn't always possible.

Rating: 8 out of 10.