Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

Scott begins his freshman year of high school with very little expectation and a whole lot of worry. He wishes his big brother was around to tell him what to expect, but since he never graduated from high school, Scott isn't sure what kind of advice he'd give.

Then Scott's parents announce they're pregnant. Still reeling from the idea, Scott decides to write down tips and tricks for the unborn sibling for beginning high school. Just so when that person enters high school, Scott can act as a guide for him or her.

Other things are going on in Scott's life though. He's trying to get Julia, a girl he's gone to school with for years, to notice him. He runs for student council because she does. He joins the school newspaper because she wrote a story. And he tries out for the school play because he hears she's going to. All of these plans backfire on him. In the meantime, he might just learn what being in high school is really like...

And what a ride it'll be.

Hilarious, sweet, and completely realistic. I highly recommend this for anyone to read. We read this for my book club and we absolutely loved it. It is a little dated, but you'll never even notice!

Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series by Heather Brewer

Eighth Grade Bites
Life isn't perfect for Vlad, but things are pretty good. He's got his best friend Henry, who he accidentally bit when they were 8, his aunt Nelly brings blood home from the hospital, and 8th grade could be worse. He misses his parents terribly, and believes he's the only vampire left.

This year brings about changes...especially in his need to eat and control his temper. And Mr. Craig, his favorite teacher, goes missing. Mr. Otis takes his place, and seems to know that Vlad is a vampire. Vlad finds his dad's journal and learns some startling truths--like he's not the only vampire and he's been hidden from the others his entire life. They now might know where he is and are coming to get him. To make him pay for his dad's crime.

A good start to the series. There are enough things left unexplained to lead into the next books. Vlad is a great character, but not the only one.

Ninth Grade Slays
Vlad survived 8th grade and now begins his freshman year of high school. Henry's cousin Joss has come to stay with him and Vlad is happy to have another friend--especially when Henry is busy or when Vlad's getting picked on.

Vlad also gets an opportunity to develop some of his vampire powers, which should come in useful when his life is in danger. Which is sooner than he would have thought, as an old enemy comes back determined to take him out, by any means necessary.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson

Jenna lost a year and a half from her life. Something terrible happened and she's just now, at the age of 17, learning how to walk again, speak again, get her memory back, and function. Nothing around her looks familiar, and she can't believe her two best friends (when she remembers that she has best friends) aren't coming around to see her. But her parents moved her from Boston to California while she was still out of it, and she believes that's why she hasn't seen anyone else.

As her memories start to come back, Jenna really wonders what happened to her. Why her grandmother--Lily--can't seem to stand the sight of her. Why she's not allowed to go outside. Why her mother spends so much time hovering. And why they moved from Boston, where her father still works.

Slowly those questions are answered, but only bring up new ones. Including when it's ok to let someone go.

A combination of prose and poetry, Jenna's story is powerful and heart-wrenching. We learn as Jenna does about her condition and exactly how far her parents go to save her life. And the lives of her friends. This did remind me a bit of Robin Wasserman's books, but it is definitely not the same. A good sci-fi novel.

The Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Valerie is confused, hurt, angry, and scared. Five months ago, her boyfriend Nick opened fire in the Commons at school and killed 6 people before Valerie stopped him. Then he killed himself. The investigation into the shooting revealed the Hate List--a list she and Nick put together of all the people they hated. Almost everyone who got shot was on that list.

Now Valerie is back at school, with no friends and lots of enemies. Her old friends abandoned her, the survivors want her gone, and the teachers and principal watch her for signs of aggression. Even her parents think she had something to do with the shooting. How can she prove them wrong?

This is a powerful story about surviving a school shooting and moving on--not only for Valerie, but the community as well. Valerie's reactions and emotions are realistic as well as many of the other characters. I found the book to be riveting and couldn't put it down. But it was hard to read as well.

My So-Called Death by Stacey Jay

Karen didn't know she had a genetic mutation that would keep her alive when she fell off the top of the cheerleading pyramid in front of the whole school.

Now she's head to a boarding school for the Un-Dead. As soon as she arrives bad things start happening. Some students at DEAD aren't mutants like her--they were raised from the dead by a magician and rescued. Those students are now in jeopardy, including Karen's new friend Trish. Girls have been found with their brains missing and Karen and Trish are determined to find the culprit. Karen gets distracted by cute Gavin--her number one suspect and then Trish is attacked. Now Karen and Gavin must find the attacker before they're the next victims.

An interesting paranormal romance--all the elements are here. There's a lot of description from Karen about being a zombie (including brains and eating them). The real killer is one of the plot twists and Karen's reaction to everything is as well. I wouldn't say this is on par with Jay's other Undead series, but I still enjoyed the story.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Violet is just beginning her junior year of high school and concerned about her growing feelings for her best friend, Jay. She's not sure if he feels the same way about her, but she's pretty sure he doesn't--he never acts like it.

But that's not all Violet has to worry about. Violet has a special gift. She feels a pull or an echo, to find murdered creatures. In the forest behind her home, that usually means animals that have been eaten or killed. She's only found a human once--when she was eight she found the body of a murdered little girl.

That all changes on Labor Day weekend, when she's out on a jet ski with Jay. She feels a pull towards the shore where she finds the body of a teenage girl.

Now girls are disappearing with more regularity and Violet can't help but think she needs to help find the killer. Each echo leaves an imprint on the murderer, and she knows she's the only one that feel it, just by seeing the killer's face.

What she doesn't know is she may be the next victim.

A thriller with some romance thrown in for balance. An excellent and exciting novel. The murderer's point of view is offered every few chapters as he picks up new victims. Violet's story is well-written and terrifying. Let's just say, I didn't want to be walking out of work at night into our vacant parking lot!

In a heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Amelia needs a heart. She doesn't know if she'll get one before hers gives out. She's lived most of her young life avoiding activity, stress, and school.

Eagan has always wanted to be an Olympic skater. She and her mom don't get along, but they both agree on her skating. Then tragedy strikes and Eagan dies in the middle of a competition.

Now Amelia gets a new heart, but she can't explain why she has a new craving for purple, skating, and sarcasm.

Told from both girls' points-of-view, as Amelia struggles to adjust to having a healthy heart and Eagan accepts her death. A great story about transplant survivors and their families. The story is heartfelt and emotional. Sad and poignant.