The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint

Grace's life isn't all that it use to be. After her grandfather dies, she mopes around and refuses to go out and participate in life. The only thing that soothes her is working on old cars. Then fate intervenes, and she's shot while out buying cigarettes.

John's been leading no life at all. He works, he draws, and he sometimes hangs out with his friends. The Halloween Nina convinces him to go out changes his entire life. Because he meets Grace.

John and Grace meet that Halloween night. The problem? Grace isn't alive anymore. And as she struggles to find out why she's in limbo, John discovers a life he's never dreamed of living.

An interesting book told in alternative points of view. Grace's story is the main one here, and becomes the focus more as the story goes on. Highly entertaining read!

School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer

Angela's parents don't know what to do with her after her grandfather dies. She's been getting into one form of trouble or another for years, so they send her off to Hidden Oaks, a school for troubled young women. A school that has a reputation for changing their behavior.

Once Angela arrives, though, she realizes the school is not what it seems. For the first month, the new girls are kept secluded from the rest of the students, and given harsh lessons about their behavior. In groups, the girls disappear towards the end of the month, and Angela can't help but wonder where the people she got to know ended up. Determined to find her friends and figure out what the school is up to, she breaks too many rules and finds out for herself the true mission of the school.

An interesting idea and story line.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia wakes up one morning to terrible news. Her best friend until 6 months ago was found dead in a hotel alone. She died as a direct result of her eating disorder.

Both girls have had eating disorders. Lia has been hospitalized twice, but all that did was teach her how to better hide her problem. But when she gets to 90 pounds, it's hard to hide that she isn't eating. Cassie ate too much, then purged to get rid of it. The girls encouraged each other to stay thin, even to the point of competing to see who could be the skinniest.

Now Lia's being haunted by her demons and Cassie's. Cassie called Lia the night she died and was ignored. And it seems that Cassie is more than ready to let Lia follow her to the grave.

This book is written in a way to pull you into Lia's world. However, this book is not for the faint of heart, as it talks about how Lia starves and cuts herself. The story is very powerful, moving, and emotional.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Isabel and her younger sister Ruth were suppose to be freed when their mistress and owner passed away. But the old woman's will can't be found, and Isabel and Ruth are sold the very same day.

The Lockwoods take the sisters to New York City. It's 1776, and the Revolutionary War is just warming up. The Lockwoods are Loyalists and are anxiously awaiting news of British forces. Isabel, believing the Patriots can free her and her sister, begin to spy for the Patriots. She has no idea of the fate awaiting her with this decision.

This novel is told from Isabel's point of view. Isabel's life is not easy, and this story definitely shows that. A great story and well written.

Eternal by Cynthia Leigh Smith

Miranda was suppose to die. Zachary knew that. But he couldn't help himself--he saved her. Which threw them both off the map.

Zachary is Miranda's guardian angel. He's watched out for her her entire life. But when he sees a chance to alter her destiny, he takes it. He saves her, in time for her to forfeit her soul. Because of his intervention, she's turned into a vampire. And now they're both in trouble.

Told in alternating voices, and taking place in the same world as Tantalize, Eternal is a fantastic story of two lost souls unsure of where they belong.

Vampire Diaries--The Return: Nightfall by L. J. Smith

Elena is back from the dead, but not completely. Her time on the Other Side has given her Powers that make her more than human. She and Stefan slowly adapt to her new abilities and their life together.

But a new evil quietly slides into Fells Church and begins infecting several young women. Damen, in the wrong place at the wrong time, also gets infected. Then Stefan disappears and Elena and her friends don't know where to start looking for him. Meanwhile, the Old Woods turn against everyone who enters.

Can Elena, Bonnie, Meredith, and Matt find the courage and strength to fight this new evil? Can they trust Damen? And for Elena's sake--can they find Stefan?

A great book, continuing the Vampire Diaries series.

Bliss by Lauren Myracle

It's 1969 and Bliss is moving to Georgia to live with her grandmother. Up until this point, she's lived with her parents no matter where they are, but as her dad dodges the draft, they send Bliss off in order to attend school.

Bliss has never really been around people her own age before, and feels a little out of sorts. She starts high school, and soon realizes not everything is what it seems. Still, she makes friends, even if she doesn't like them all the time.

But something evil is waiting for her in Hamilton Hall--one of the oldest building on campus. A young woman killed herself there many years ago, and is waiting for someone to bring her back to life.

A great and thrilling story. Each chapter begins with a quote from the times, including the Charles Manson trials, tv, and well-known people from the 60s and 70s.