Fiction. When blue-haired, smart-mouthed Molly is paired up with her nemesis--blonde, perky Cassie--for a class project, they clash. And clash again. Then they get lunch duty and end up in a food fight, causing the lunch lady to quit. At their private, hippie-run school, punishment fits the crime, so Cassie and Molly have to take over for the lunch lady--but neither of them can cook! To find out whether these two should be around sharp knives together, and for a fast-paced, funny read with some great recipes, get in line for Hot Lunch.

Fiction. NYU freshmen Naomi and Ely are inseparable best friends. They've lived next door to each other in their Greenwich Village apartment building forever, and--since Ely is gay--they've even created a list of people neither of them is allowed to kiss in order to prevent jealousy from coming between them. But Naomi neglected to put her boyfriend Bruce on the list. When Ely kisses him (and lies about it), can Ely and Naomi's friendship survive? Music lovers will want to make note of the playlists that Naomi, Ely and their friends mix for each other--not every book comes with its own soundtrack!

Fiction. As is the case with many 16-year-olds, there are a lot of things that Tessa Scott has never experienced. However, unlike most 16-year-olds, Tessa has terminal cancer and only months left to live. Determined to get the most out of what time she has left, she makes a list of things she wants to do before she dies: have sex, drive a car, and say "yes" to everything for a whole day, among others. This painful yet beautiful story may cost you a box (or two) of tissues, but Entertainment Weekly says that British debut author Jenny Downham "earns every tear she wrings from her readers" by writing in a way that rings true.

Fiction. Mildly nerdy, sarcastic Tom Mayo--nicknamed "Miracle Wimp" by the meat-headed jerks he calls the "Donkeys"--is doing his best to survive and maybe even enjoy parts of high school. Between wood shop with weird Mr. Boort, taking a driver's test, and horrors like wedgies and gym class, Tom's sense of humor gets a workout keeping him sane. Hilarious doodles illustrate the short, diary-like chapters that describe Tom's day-to-day trials and triumphs. Tom doesn't tip the nerd scales as hard as, say, Napoleon Dynamite, but fans of that movie will think Miracle Wimp is flippin' sweet.

Fiction. Teenager Thom Creed's father is an ex-superhero who was disgraced in a terrible tragedy, so when Thom begins to develop superhuman powers, he doesn't tell his dad. Thom has something else he's afraid to tell his father: he's gay. When the prestigious League of superheroes invites Thom to join, he secretly begins training with a group of oddball recruits. But after a series of hero-murders threaten not only the League but world security, Thom and his team realize it's up to them to save the day. Fans of comic books and the movie The Incredibles will love this "funny, touching" (People) mix of intrigue, fantasy, and romance.

Fiction. If you lost all memory of the past four years of your life, would you still be the same person? That's what high school sophomore Naomi Porter has to figure out after she falls down the steps in front of her school and suffers a head injury. Naomi doesn't remember her parents' divorce; her tennis-star boyfriend, Ace; or even her best friend and co-chair on the yearbook staff, Will. But she does remember James, the mysterious (and gorgeous) guy who saw her fall and rode in the ambulance with her to the hospital. If you like psychological drama, romance, and subtle humor, this book is for you.

Short Stories. These ten stories written by contemporary Native American authors--including Cynthia Leitich Smith, Louise Erdrich, Richard Van Camp, Joseph Bruchac, and recent National Book Award-winner Sherman Alexie--are beautiful and intense. With themes ranging from painful tales of divorce, poverty, and addiction to proud celebrations of American Indian identity, strength, and humor, this collection "reminds us that the American Indian story is far from over."

Novel in Verse. Evan Hill's father is Mohawk, and when Evan attends a pep rally at his high school, he is deeply ashamed of and offended by the school's stereotypical, caricatured Indian mascot. Evan takes up the lonely crusade started by his older brother to have the mascot changed and finds himself fighting not only the school board, but also the principal and his classmates. After Evan and his family become the target of a violent backlash against Evan's campaign, he's almost ready to give up...almost. Anyone who's had to fight to be heard will appreciate this courageous story.

Anthology. In this collection of poems, short stories, and essays, young Native Americans share their "memories of the past, pictures of the present, and hopes for the future" (Publishers Weekly). The writers represent a large number of tribes; live in cities, towns, and on reservations; and range in age from 11 to 22. Each of them offers a unique perspective about life, love, heritage, and identity in writing about their pain, their hopes, their fears, and their dreams.

Fiction. Fifteen-year-old Canadian teen Josie Jessop is used to being the norm--that is, a white kid in a largely white world. But when her mom marries Martin, "a real ponytail Indian," Josie moves onto the reservation with them and learns what it's like to be the one who is different. While this book does not specify which tribe Josie and her mom become a part of, author Sylvia Olsen writes credibly by basing her story in her own experience, having married into the Tsartlip First Nation at the age of 17.

Adventure. Ahtna Athabascan poet and author John Smelcer spins a suspenseful tale of survival in the cruelly beautiful Alaskan wilderness. Johnny Least-Weasel's stubbornly traditional Native Alaskan grandfather Albert has gone out to check his trapline, and he's been gone far too long. Johnny's grandmother urges him to go looking for her husband, but Johnny's uncles on the tribal council aren't concerned. Meanwhile, Albert Least-Weasel has his leg caught in one of his own traps and must fend off wolves, hunger, and bitter cold. This taut "masterpiece" (Kirkus Reviews) will keep you turning the pages.

Linked Short Stories. These are raw, graphic, and sometimes violent stories about (in author Thomas M. Yeahpau's words) "a race that was losing its culture and a generation that was losing its mind." Yeahpau's main characters Mausape, Hoss, Brando, and Maddog are X-Indians, straddling the white world and their American Indian traditions. Their stories are about struggles with the "liquid white man" (alcohol) and about honor, love, and betrayal on the reservation. Leavened with touches of humor--like a Fancy-Dancing showdown with Elvis--and magical realism, these are stories you won't soon forget.