Short Stories. Geeks get a lot of guff for being so devoted to their (often admittedly obscure) interests. But, as evidenced by the popularity of the authors broadcasting their geek pride in this collection (click the Table of Contents link to check them out), geeks also write bestselling books. Now, the nerdy have their very own short-story collection in Geektastic, which delves into a variety of geekdoms from Star Trek to online gaming to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, astronomy, cosplay, Comic-Cons, and more. Alternately heart-wrenching and hilarious and interspersed with comics such as "What Your Lunch Table Status Means" and "How to Identify the Living Dead," these 15 stories will appeal to anyone with an unbridled passion.

Humorous Fiction. Lovably neurotic 16-year-old Ruby Oliver is still struggling to deal with life, boys, and panic attacks in this 3rd book to feature her (after The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book). She kind of likes her chemistry lab partner, Noel, but her friend Nora liked him first. Her ex-boyfriend Jackson is acting like he might want her back, and both college-boy Gideon and soccer-stud Finn seem to be sending romantic signals, too. On top of Ruby's troubles with boys and friends, she's been fired from her job at the zoo--and she's got a bake sale to run. Complete with quirky wordplay and chortle-worthy footnotes, this installment of Ruby's painfully hilarious saga is sure to satisfy her fans.

Humorous Fiction. Guys in bands get dates. At least, this is Ari Abramson's theory, and it's the reason he decides to form a ska/punk band with his charming but not-so-talented best friend, Jonas, and Yossi and Reena Gluck (Yossi is the only person at their Jewish prep school who owns a drum kit, and if he joins, his sister Reena joins--that's the deal). But just as their group The Tribe is becoming popular, tensions among the members and the disapproval of Ari's demanding parents threaten to rip the band apart. Illustrated throughout with enlightening (and hilarious) comic art, So Punk Rock "drums on the funny bone and reverberates through the heart" (Booklist).

Fiction. After Toronto teenager Sabine (aka "Bean") Solomon gets splattered with "McFatty meal" leftovers flung out the window of an idling minivan, she vaults off of her bicycle and gives the offending driver a piece of her mind. Bean's eco-rant against the fast-food flinger soon shows up on YouTube (a friend recorded the whole incident) and her transformation into a full-time eco-warrior begins. This debut novel includes posts from Bean's blog--with comments!--and crackles with sharp wit and romance. It also provides solid, factual information on the state of the environment as well as tips on what readers can do to protect the planet.

Fiction. Computer hacker Marcus spends most of his time outwitting school surveillance until the day that San Francisco is bombed by terrorists--and he and his friends are arrested, taken to a secret prison, and brutally questioned for days. When they release Marcus, the authorities threaten to come for him again if he breathes a word about his ordeal; meanwhile, America has become a police state where everyone is suspect. For Marcus, the only option left is to take down the power-crazed Department of Homeland Security with an underground online revolution. The Los Angeles Times calls this scary and technologically riveting book "pretty freaking cool."

Fiction. Matt (not "Matilda," and definitely not "Mattie") is a smart-mouthed Goth girl who has been shuttled from one foster home to another for years. She doesn't allow people to get close to her, since in her experience that leads to getting hurt. Now she is moving in with yet another foster family, and they are Quakers who are active in the movement against the Iraq war. Matt tends to run from her fears and problems, so she at first thinks her foster parents are crazy for confronting war supporters in their small town. But when the school bully and a fanatically pro-war teacher make a target of Matt, she may be ready to stand up for her beliefs for the first time ever.

Fiction. Scary-smart high school senior Josh Swensen wants to save the world--and to win the heart of his best friend, Beth. He's also got more than one bone to pick with American culture, which he sees as ridiculously materialistic and celebrity-worshipping. So, he starts an anonymous blog (calling himself "Larry"), publishes "sermons" that rail against corporations' manipulation of our lives...and becomes a celebrity whose legions of fans are determined to uncover his true identity. What's an anti-consumerist philosopher to do? Left-leaning activists, fans of realistic characters, and anyone who likes a fast-paced, provocative read will love this book and will also want to read the follow-up volumes Vote for Larry and Larry and the Meaning of Life.

Humorous Romance. When lovelorn 17-year-old A.J. McCreary, a talented photographer, is assigned to snap a cover shot for the school yearbook, she stumbles upon a stuffed cupid who comes to life and offers her his assistance. Despite the otherworldly archer's admission that he never quite gets love spells right, A.J. opts for help in the romantic realm instead of asking for success in art or academics, her other choices. Soon, hunky Peter Terris, A.J.'s longtime unrequited love, can't get enough of her, which is great...right? Readers of this hilarious riff on the adage "be careful what you wish for" are in for one fun and wacky ride through the world of high-school romance.

Paranormal Romance. After her stepfather dies unexpectedly, grieving, phobic Zara goes to live with her grandmother in chilly, small-town Bedford, Maine. As she begins to make friends and attract the attention of several local boys (including sexy Nick, who runs faster than any human should be able to), Zara notices something unsettling: she's being followed by a strange man who leaves a golden, glittery trail everywhere he goes. To her horror, she learns that her stalker is a pixie king...and that if he doesn't mate with a queen soon, the young men in Bedford will all be in terrible danger. Fans of Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely will definitely want to read this creepy, suspenseful, and action-packed romance.

Horror. It's the same old story; a young girl falls in love with a boy her mother warns her against--except in this case it's because the boy is human. Self-assured, beautiful Vivian is a werewolf, and since her father died a year ago, the adolescent males in her pack (called the Five) have been in fierce competition to take his place as its leader. But Vivian blames the Five for her dad's death, and is sick of their careless endangerment of the tribe and their constant fighting. This makes her especially vulnerable to the attractions of sweet, sensitive Aiden, a "meat-boy." Can he love her if he finds out what she really is?

Urban Fantasy. High-school senior Nicole has been in love with Zin since the first time she saw him dance. But even though Nicole feels a connection between them--one that helps her deal with her messed-up family life--Zin seems determined to keep her at a distance. After she begins performing in Zin's break-dancing group at New York City's club Evermore, however, Nicole learns the startling truth about him: he is one of the Jiang Shi, immortals who feed on the souls of dying humans. Are the feelings that she has for Zin really strong enough to last...forever? Twilight fans who can handle something a bit grittier will appreciate the tantalizing romance in Raven, and dance aficionados will love the detailed descriptions of the dance group's moves.