Fantasy & Science Fiction

What the Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy, by Gregory Maguire
Candlewick Press, 2008

By the time they get to their 'tween years, many kids get tired of hearing the same old fairy tales. That might explain the trend in young-adult fantasy writing these days, which takes the old standards (i.e., the tooth fairy) and turns them into multilevel narratives that blow all the old notions out of the water. In this novel, allegorical mastermind Gregory Maguire (Wicked) depicts a world where thousands of tooth fairies live in colonies around the world, and use the teeth they collect to make special, wish-granting candles for kids. The story begins as Dinah, Zeke, and their little sister, Rebecca Ruth, hunker down with their cousin and babysitter, Gage, in the middle of the worst storm their little town has ever seen. All Gage can do to distract the anxious kids from the dwindling food supply and their discomfort at the absence of their parents is unfolded in the long, complicated tale of the tooth fairy that changed it all for him, and for the entire tooth fairy world.

We also recommend:

The Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer

Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow

The Savage, by David Almond and Dave Mckean

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Age: 8+
Retail Price: $9
Available at: amazon.com

Advice for Tweens and Teens

97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School, by Steven Jenkins and Erica Stalder
Orange Avenue Publishing, 2007

There's really only so much they can teach you in school, right? Fortunately, this book picks up where academia leaves off — suggestions include everything from researching your family tree, to writing your own manifesto, to taking care of a houseplant. 97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School is a great book for younger teens (think eighth to tenth grade) who love working on extracurricular and personal projects, or even one who thinks "being bored" is an acceptable use of time. It reads like a guidebook and a how-to, in that it provides readers with step-by-step instructions through activities that help with self-discovery, social awareness, and global understanding without being too lofty or gender-specific.

We also recommend:

How to Talk to Girls, by Alec Greven and Kei Acedera

The Daring Book for Girls, by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz

The Big Book of Boy Stuff, by Bart King and Chris Sabatino

The Smart Girl’s Guide to Starting Middle School, by Julie Williams and Angela Martini

Age: 12+
Retail Price: $10
Available at: amazon.com

High School Homework Help

Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail, by Danica McKellar
Plume, 2007

According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, girls have made significant progress in eradicating the gaps in scores in math between them and the guys. The bad news is that there are still a greater number of males taking advanced math and science courses, and they consistently score higher than females in math and science. In a revolutionary kind of textbook, Danica McKellar (you'll recognize McKellar from reruns of The Wonder Years) takes on the challenge of changing this statistic. Math Doesn’t Suck explains the most basic mathematical principles in a way that seems fun and a little irreverent, which is in contrast to a standard, school-issued math book. The text reads a little like a magazine, with short, tight chunks of information accompanied by examples, practice problems, and the occasional inspirational word about how great it is to be a smart woman. Though math might be the last thing tweens or teens wants to think about on winter break, this book may help them be a little less apprehensive about the first day back in January.

Also on the list:

Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who’s Boss, by Danica McKellar

War is... Soldiers, Survivors, and Storytellers Talk About War, Editors: Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell

Reading in 15 Minutes a Day (Junior Skills Builder Series), by Learning Express Editors

Age: 12+
Retail Price: $10
Available at: amazon.com

Sports Stories

The Big Field, by Mike Lupica
Philomel Books, 2008

There aren’t many writers out there writing sports-themed young-adult fiction, but we’re lucky that Mike Lupica has taken up the practice. Lupica has a large stable of sports fiction for every kind of fan — from the pressures of middle-school basketball, to the hard-hitting drama of the football field, Lupica melds strong narratives out of his real-life experience as a sports reporter. In this most recent addition to his collection, Lupica tells the story of Keith "Hutch" Hutchinson, a talented young baseball player who wants nothing more than to play the game for the rest of his life. Summer is prime baseball time in Hutch’s Florida suburb, and as the newly elected captain of his team, he’s determined to help the Cardinals go all the way to the finals. But between tension at home with his once-great baseball star dad and tension on the field with the team’s star shortstop, Hutch has a lot more on his mind than a killer breakaway fast pitch. Lupica's mix of sports-writing and traditional storytelling make this book an easy sell for sports nuts who think books are best used as pedestals for their championship trophies.

We also recommend:

The End of Baseball: A Novel, by Peter Schilling

Slam, by Walter Dean Myers

Dairy Queen , by Catherine Murdock

Age: 9-12
Retail Price: $12
Available at: amazon.com

Girly Drama

Private Series — Private (Book 1), by Kate Brian
Simon Pulse, 2006

There’s a ceaseless fascination with the popular girls in young-adult fiction. Perhaps it's because this is one of the most real narratives that takes place in every school in the country. In this novel, the focus is on the new girl, and her interaction with the entirely different universe of private boarding school. Reed Brennan comes to Easton Academy to escape her pill-popping, destructive mother, and boring, small-town high school in the hopes that it will give her a chance at something more than a disappointing life in the suburbs. She's been dreaming about Easton for years — but she never imagined the work it would take to make friends and keep her grades high enough to keep her scholarship. Early on, Reed gets spotted by the most powerful, intelligent, and beautiful clique of girls on campus, and she wants nothing more than to be a part of their group. Of course, there's always a price for popularity. Despite Reed's self-confidence and street smarts, it's hard to say how or if she'll land on her feet by the end of the series. This book is an excellent start to what could easily be an addictive series for most teens (and maybe some adults too).

Also on the List:

The Clique Series, by Lisi Harrison

Pretty Little Liars, by Sarah Shepard

The ABC's of Kissing Boys, by Tina Ferraro

Age: 13+
Retail Price: $9
Available at: amazon.com