Leverage by Joshua Cohen

One of the most absolute hardest books I've read and couldn't put down, all at the same time. Danny is a sophomore and a gymnast. He's actually pretty good, and hopes that a gymnastics scholarship is his ticket to college and away. He's pretty scrawny (a good thing for gymnasts), gets along with his teammates, and loves his sport.

Kurt is a senior football player and a pretty big guy. He's been in the foster care system for a while, and as a survivor of child sexual abuse, he's especially had a hard time after his best friend was killed. He's determined never to be a victim again, and takes the coach's "vitamins" to help with that goal.

What the two of these guys are witness to is horrendous. Three of Kurt's teammates gang-raping a freshman teammate of Danny's. Both too scared to talk about it, they have to decide whether to stay victims, or find the courage to stand up to bullies.

The story is told in Danny and Kurt's alternating voices. Like I said, this was a hard book to get through. The rape scene could have been described in more detail, but it could have been described in less. The author did a fantastic job of hitting just the right notes with both characters and the horrible, horrible action they witness. Everyone should read this book.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

Ava can't believe Jackson is gone. The love of her life died and she can't help but think it's all her fault.

But Jackson isn't really gone--at least not yet. He's still around, letting her know he still cares for her. All she wants to do is stay home and feel his presence.

Life has a way of moving on and after a summer vacation away from her house, Ava realizes she can't hold on to him. Her guilt increases as Jackson struggles to communicate with her.

Can she move on and let him go? That is her hardest choice.

This story is a novel in verse and very well done. Schroeder gives hints about what happened to Jackson as the book begins at his funeral. Ava's feelings of guilt are apparent on every page and each flashback reminds her what they had and how she lost it. Lots of emotion and grief--probably more than if the book was written in prose.

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.