Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/17/2012
ISBN-13: 9780312568894
ISBN-10: 0312568894

Science Fiction. When 19-year-old Jackson Meyer discovers that he has the ability to travel short time spans into the past, testing his powers is fun...at first. But when his girlfriend, Holly, is shot by two men who claim to know his father, Jackson's panic jolts him back two years in time. Now his tests and refinements all have one purpose: to get back to the point in time where he can save Holly. Part thriller, part romance, part time-travel adventure, and 100% riveting, this debut is the 1st volume of a trilogy and is sure to leave you breathless for the next installment.

First Chapter  

Publisher: HarperTeen
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/03/2012
ISBN-13: 9780061766695
ISBN-10: 0061766690

Fiction. Feeling suffocated by her overprotective parents and her controlling, abusive boyfriend, Joy Delamere fakes her own kidnapping out of desperation and escapes to the streets of Seattle's infamous Capitol Hill. There, she falls in with a makeshift family of homeless teens who teach her not only how to survive, but how to stand up for herself -- and even how to love. Gritty, emotionally intense, and filled with both psychological insights and vivid descriptions of its setting and characters, Don't Breathe a Word is a mesmerizing, unforgettable read.

Publisher: Little, Brown
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/06/2012
ISBN-13: 9780316121873
ISBN-10: 0316121878

Fiction. Born in a first-aid tent just off the main stage at a Bob Marley tribute festival, baby Marley Johnnywas Diego-Dylan took his first breath while music filled his ears. Now 16 and dreaming of a life that doesn't involve caring for his heroin-addicted mom or bussing tables every night to pay the bills, Marley thinks he's found his ticket to freedom when he lands an audition to DJ at the hottest club in town. Written by an alt-rock drummer, this book "reverberates with the energy of a thumping dance club" (Booklist, starred review) and is full of ecstatic details about music and the power of a DJ to move a crowd.

Publisher: Henry Holt
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/27/2008
ISBN-13: 9780805080803
ISBN-10: 0805080805

Fiction. Johnny is an eyeliner-wearing Goth kid who's been through a lot; his dad died when he was 13, and when his mom tried to drown her grief in alcohol, Johnny followed suit. Now 17 and fresh out of a stint in rehab, Johnny moves to South Carolina to live with his uncle. Most people at his new school assume that he's gay -- except for Maria, who shares Johnny's passion for '80s punk and new wave music, especially Blondie. But even as Johnny is falling for Maria, he longs to have the same kind of power and beauty that he sees in Debbie Harry (Blondie's lead singer). One of very few teen novels about cross-dressing-but-straight guys, this is a great pick for fans of authors who play with gender norms, such as David Levithan, John Green, and Julie Anne Peters.

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/14/2010
ISBN-13: 9780763646332
ISBN-10: 0763646334

Fiction. In this raunchily hilarious and slang-ridden sequel to Swim the Fly, Matt's friend Coop takes over narration duties and tells how he tries to overcome the stigma of being paired with class pariah "Hot Dog" Helen for a health class presentation on contraception. (The short version: he forms a band with several friends -- none of whom actually know how to play an instrument -- and enters a Battle of the Bands.) For another funny novel that's about navigating the minefield of high-school popularity and that both guys and girls can relate to, check out Susan Juby's Getting the Girl.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Henry Holt
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/25/2011
ISBN-13: 9780805092967
ISBN-10: 080509296X

Fiction. When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine Kiss decides to defer her enrollment at Stanford and pursue her dream of being a rock star, her father kicks her out of the house and cuts her off completely. Jasmine flees to Santa Cruz, California with only her guitars and amp -- and after a disheartening search for a place to live, she answers an ad for a "live-in lead guitarist (industrial rock)." With its likeable main character, realistic details about music and performing, and a bit of romance, this witty novel is a good bet for fans of Sarah Dessen's This Lullaby.

Publisher: Amulet Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 11/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780810941748
ISBN-10: 0810941740

Fiction. Music is everything to 17-year-old guitarist Sammy Bojar, who hopes that his indie rock band will one day earn a cult following of the sort that "cool famous" underground groups have. But first, he's got to keep the group from self-destructing before the upcoming Battle of the Bands -- which will be a challenge considering how hostile the lead singer is. With an immensely likeable main character, some poignant family moments, a sweet-if-slightly-awkward romance, and a playlist at the end of the book, Struts & Frets is a great choice for fans of The Half-Life of Planets by Emily Franklin.