Thriller. Cassie's unusual ability to get inside other people's heads has always made her feel like an outsider. So when the FBI invites her to join a secret team of "Naturals" -- teens whose special talents are ideal for criminal profiling -- Cassie can't resist…especially not after the Naturals investigate a series of murders with some terrifyingly familiar details. With a creepy mystery and a touch of romance, this gruesome crime thriller is a "stay-up-late-to-finish kind of book" (Publishers Weekly) that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next volume in the series. In the meantime, check out the more supernatural (but equally bloody) Shades of London series by Maureen Johnson.  

Fiction. Can true love last beyond the grave? Even after his death, Tressa can't stop thinking about her beloved boyfriend Luke. She blames herself for the accident that killed him, and her family's judgment (they disapproved because Luke was her stepbrother) only makes matters worse. But at night, in secret, Luke's ghost comes to visit Tressa. Though their connection is fragile, she's determined to hold on, even if it means destroying her own life. Atmospheric and deeply emotional (Kirkus Reviews says you shouldn't read it if you're "shy about public sobbing"), Meet Me at the River is a haunting tale of love and grief.

Mystery. After a near-fatal car crash, 17-year-old Ember returns home from the hospital, but she's not the same. Though her body has healed, she can't remember the accident or the six weeks that came before it. As the jagged pieces of her memory slowly start to resurface, Ember follows a hunch to a dance club where she meets Kai, a strangely alluring artist who might be able to help her put the pieces together. The pace in this angsty psychological mystery accelerates steadily as Ember remembers more and more, building to a stunning conclusion that mystery fans won't want to miss.

Kick off 2014 with one (or all!) of these awesome books about a single, life-changing year.

Fiction. Just before his first year of high school, Pete's dream of a baseball career is demolished after an injury damages his pitching arm. Pete feels lost without baseball, but having learned some basic camera skills from his grandfather (a professional photographer), he finds some comfort in a photography class -- and in a relationship with smart, spirited classmate Angelika. At home, though, it's getting harder to ignore the fact that Grampa's memory isn't what it used to be. If you like this funny yet bittersweet story of a sidelined athlete looking for a new direction, you might also enjoy The Beginning of Everything by Robin Schneider.