A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

The first book in a series, A Great and Terrible Beauty begins with Gemma and her mother, walking through the market in India, where Gemma's family has lived for most of her life. The plan to move back to England has been set in motion, and Gemma can't wait.

Then Gemma's mother is attacked and killed--right in the market. Gemma is sped back to England, and into a finishing school her mother didn't want her to go to. Now Gemma not only has to worry about her father's health, and the mean popular girls at school pulling pranks on her, but she discovers a diary that tells of a secret power just waiting for the taking. And Gemma starts to have visions of things that could happen. Not to mention the mysterious events right before her mother died. Will she figure things out in time?

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

Josh feels like an outcast in his small town. At eighteen, he's still suffering with the aftermath of being molested by his seventh-grade teacher when he was twelve, and it hasn't gotten any easier with time. Even though his name was never released during the course of her trial, everyone knows about his past.

During that same time five years before, Josh hurt one of his closest friends, Rachel. Now Rachel is forcing him to confront what he did to her and what happened to him all those years ago. But can Josh come to terms with what happened and move on?

This is a powerful story of the aftermath of child molestation, told from the victim's viewpoint. An emotional read.

Confessor by Terry Goodkind

Confessor is the last book in the epic Sword of Truth series. Once again, we join Richard and Kahlan as the world seems lost to evil. Both struggle with their own problems--Kahlan still not knowing who she is, and Richard desperate to find both her and a solution to everyone's problem--the Fellowship of the Order.

But other things threaten the good of all. With the Boxes of Orden in play once again, Richard strives to find a solution that will keep the world out of the Keeper's clutches--and out of despair. This final book is a climatic end to the story which began so long ago with Wizard's First Rule--with the final and most important wizard's rule of them all.

A masterful story that pulls elements from the other 10 novels in the series. The story begins with Wizard's First Rule.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

Creel's parents are gone and Creel and her brother live with her aunt and uncle--who are striving to make ends meet. That's when Creel's aunt gets an idea--send Creel to the dragon and have a rich landowner or knight save her. Surely then, they will marry her.

Creel, however, does not think much of this plan. She goes to the dragon, but rescues herself by bargaining with him. She gets a pair of slippers and then tells the knight to not save her--she's going to find her own fortune. She heads to the city, where things go from strange to even stranger.

With an enemy to the kingdom in their midst, can Creel figure out the significance to her slippers in time? Or will it be too late before the dragons suddenly attack without warning?

A great twist on the old 'damsel in distress' fairytale!

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Cammie back in this sequel to I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You. It's been two months since she last saw Josh walk out of her school--the only civilian to have done so and survived. Now, after being questioned by the CIA and deemed worthy to continue her studies, Cammie heads back to school with the promise to not break anymore rules--at least, not the important ones.

But something else is afoot at the Gallagher Girl's Academy. One of the wings has been shut down. The teachers are being more secretive than usual. And Cammie's mom looks worried. This year's classes look to be hard--especially Covert Ops. But Cammie and her friends had no idea they were up for this kind of challenge.

A light-hearted novel about the struggles to appear normal--even when you're anything but.

Phantom by Terry Goodkind

Phantom, the sequel to Chainfire, and the second-to-last book of the Sword of Truth series takes off from where Chainfire ended. Goodkind has once again weaved magic throughout a world torn apart by strife.

As the final battle between those who believe the world is nothing but worthless and those who believe their lives are their own to live approaches, Richard must find a way to keep hope alive for all who follow him with faith in his abilities. Unknown players strike without warning, however, and he is lost to the cause once again. As he struggles to find Kahlan and anyone who might remember her, he is reminded time and time again that the world as they know it is coming to an end--unless he can stop it.

Phantom is a powerfully moving story that continues the Richard and Kahlan saga. To understand the entire story, one should begin with Wizard's First Rule.