The House of the Scorpion

Title: The House of the Scorpion
Author: Nancy Farmer
Genre: Science Fiction

You will like this book if:

• You like reading science fiction.
• You are interested the ethics of science and medicine.
• You like science.
• You wonder what the future holds.
• You liked The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You don't like science.
• You like to read realistic books.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

You would like this book if:

• You like to draw.
• You like to laugh.
• You have ever felt stuck between two cultures.
• You feel frustrated by your home life.

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You are easily offended.

  Junior doesn't have it easy on his Spokane Indian reservation, if it isn't easy strapped-for-cash mom or his drunk dad, it's his runaway sister.  But Junior wants more and has the potential to get off the "rez" and seeks a better education at the all-white school off the reservation.  He realizes quickly that he doesn't fit in at his new school, and now he doesn't fit it at home either.  It sounds like a depressing book, but this book is hilarious (you might even laugh out loud)!  Junior's story-telling makes you laugh and his illustrations make the book easy to read and interesting to look at.

The Hunger Games series

Title: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Science Fiction

You would like this book if:

• You are human...just kidding, but honestly, I haven't heard one negative review from any student so far.
• You like books that are action-packed.
• You like books that keep up reading at night instead of sleeping.
• You like to read about how people survival in very difficult environments.
• You like to read about characters rebelling against the government.

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You can't visualize action scenes in your head.
• You like a book to grab your interest on the first few pages (hang on until Chapter 3).

  This series of books follows a brave young woman, Katniss, as she continually answers to and rebels against the demands of the Capitol.  Each of the 12 districts are required to send 2 teenagers, one male and one female, to participate in their annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where only one victor survives.  Without giving away anything about the two following books, I will say this: things only get more complicated in the subsequent books.  Here's a little secret though:  my favorite book of the 3 is Catching Fire. 

Impossible

Title: Impossible
Author: Nancy Werlin
Genre: Fantasy

You would like this book if:

• You like to solve riddles.
• You like to use your imagination as you read.
• You want to lose yourself in an easy read.
• You like romance in books you read.

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You have a hard time accepting things that are impossible.
• You like to read books that have many male characters.

For 17-year-old Lucy, her mother has always been distant and crazy, but not until Lucy becomes pregnant does she realize how much she has in common with her mother.  Throughout her pregnancy, Lucy is supported by her foster parents and Zach, a good friend (could he be more?), and she finds that she is just one in a long line of cursed women in her family.  Before her mother lost her mind, she left Lucy clues to save herself from the same fate.  Can Lucy and her family solve the riddles and finish the tasks in time to stop the curse once and for all?

Wintergirls

Title: Wintergirls
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

You would like this book if:

• You are interested in learning about eating disorders.
• You like books that are unlike any other you've seen.
• You like books that share and express a lot of many strong emotions.
• You enjoyed other books by Laurie Halse Anderson (Chains, Speak, etc.)

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You like books with many male characters. 
• You like upbeat, positive books.

Cassie and Lia have always been best friends until their secret drove them apart.  Despite their arguments, Cassie calls Lia 33 times the night she commits suicide; Lia never answered.  Their secret pact, to always be skinnier than the other person, drives both of them into a spiral of scarily unhealthy eating disorders.  Lia has to learn to deal with her own ghosts and the text of the novel, containing words and phrases that are crossed out, italicized, and even shrunk, gives a visual of the clouds of winter Lia endures every day.

Revolution

Title: Revolution
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

You would like this book if:

• You are passionate about music.
• You like novels with diary entries.
• You like to read historical novels.
• You like books that are told in more than one point of view.

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You like very realistic novels.
• You like books that are very upbeat and positive.
• You aren't a patient reader.

Payback Time

Title: Payback Time
Author: Carl Deuker
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

You would like this book if:

• You like to read about sports.
• You like when characters solve mysteries on their own.
• You like to read about characters who are stereotyped by their weight.
• You enjoy reading books by Mike Lupica (Heat, Travel Team, etc.).

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You like to read about romance.
• You don't watch or understand football.

Birthmarked

Title: Birthmarked
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Genre: Science Fiction

You would like this book if: 

• You like books with strong female characters.
• You like books that take place "sometime in the near future".
• You like puzzles and riddles within the novels you read.
• You like reading dystopian literature.
• You liked The Giver.

You wouldn't like this book if:

• You like to read realistic books.
• You want a resolution immediately. 

Fun Fact #1: UPDATE!  Birthmarked is going to be the first in a trilogy.  I just found out that the 2nd book, Prized, is set to be released in November 2011.  I will have to check it out!