Fiction. Handsome, fashion-conscious high-school senior Liam is Mr. Popularity--but in his angry and controlling father's eyes, all he can do is screw up. Kicked out of his dad's house after one too many transgressions, Liam (who is, by the way, straight) goes to live with his gay, cross-dressing "Aunt Pete" in an upstate New York trailer park. As he gets to know Pete and his glam-rock band buddies, Liam tries to play down his natural coolness at his new school in an attempt to please his dad. But, of course, things don't go as planned. Hilarious and insightful, King of the Screwups is one righteous read.

Fiction. A girl-on-girl fight is going to happen at 2:45pm today, and Leticia was around first thing this morning to see what set it off. Tough basketball player Dominique had just found out that she's benched for bad grades when cute-and-knows-it Trina sashayed between Dominique and her girls in the hallway. Furious, Dominique swore to beat Trina senseless after school...but Leticia knows that oblivious Trina didn't hear the threat, and unless she warns her, Trina will be blindsided. Fans of drama, suspense, and intensely real characters will be mesmerized by this "gut-wrenching" (Booklist) novel.

Nonfiction. Amigurumi are funky-cute knitted or crocheted toys and dolls that are wildly popular in Japan. This fun (and funny--read beyond the instructions!) book can help you make your own--from a carrot or cupcake to small animals and larger, humanoid critters like the punk bunny or beatnik kitty on the cover. If you'd like more of an "eeek!" than an "awww" response to your crocheted creatures, try Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More! by Christen Haden. Or, if you don't crochet but still want to make your own adorable amigurumi, check out The Cute Book by Aranzi Aronzo (its "mascots" are made of felt and require only very basic hand-sewing).

Nonfiction. Whether you'd like to learn how to create your own manga or you just want to learn more about the symbolism of this art form, you'll want to check out Manga Mania. Offering step-by-step instruction in drawing characters from all manga genres as well as demonstrating how to pose, costume, and situate them in "eye-catching comic book panels," this helpful guide also includes a handful of basic Japanese phrases and thoughts on what it's like to be a professional manga-ka (manga artist). Informative discussions of the differences between manga and Western comics and of the different manga genres will make this the dai suki (favorite) book of any manga otaku (extreme fan).

Fiction. Londoner Charlotte Grey, aka Charlie, is traveling abroad with her best friend, Alice. Her younger brother Adam is the only family member who knows that Charlie has recently been working in a Tokyo hostess bar to earn some cash, and when Alice calls to report that Charlie has gone missing, Adam flies to Japan to find her. This suspenseful, gritty novel shows glimpses of Tokyo's darker side as well as its glitz, giving readers a "pulsing slice of life cut from Tokyo's neon landscape" (Publishers Weekly). Sexy and fast-paced--and complete with chapter headings in badly translated English--Missing in Tokyo is one part thrilling adventure, one part fictional travelogue.

Fiction. Delores Walker is an ordinary 16-year-old living in the Bronx of the early 1970s. Her life stinks since her dad left the family, but Delores is determined to make a change: she's hopping a Greyhound bus to Tampa, Florida, to audition for a part as a mermaid in the Weeki Wachee Springs water show. She gets hired--just as the recently opened Walt Disney World is booming and threatens to dry up business at Weeki Wachee. But Thelma Foote, the salty lady who runs the mermaid show, has a plan that just might save her roadside attraction...and the plan depends on Delores. Quirky,  heartwarming, and fun, Swim to Me is a perfect beach read.

Short Stories. Don't judge this book by its cover! Most of its tales of transformation are about changes that come from things other than fashion, hair, and makeup, and there are stories about guys and girls--and even, in a Abenaki legend, a love-struck owl who becomes human. From the romance of a boy who thinks he's ugly to the real reason a high school girl works as an exotic dancer, each plot shows how people adapt and grow into their true selves. Closer to reality than to reality-TV-type makeovers, these memorable tales are more than skin deep.