Historical Fiction. In 1947 Queens, teenage Evie's stepfather Joe is back from the war and life is just returning to normal when the family head to Palm Beach, FL, on vacation. There Evie meets Peter, a handsome ex-GI buddy of Joe's with whom she becomes smitten. But Peter seems to make Joe uncomfortable--and when the shocking reason why is revealed, Evie finds herself caught in an intricate web of lies. This suspenseful mystery won the 2008 National Book Award. It captures the feel and dialogue of post-World War II New York and the sleepy Florida resort, features complex characters who would be at home on the silver screen, and grips readers with its story of first love, betrayal, and growing up quickly.

Fiction Horror. Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, sixteen-year-old Erin has spent half of her life in therapy and on drugs, but now must face the possibility of weird things in the real world, including shapeshifting friends and her "alter," a centuries-old vampire.

Poetry. Love is everywhere--but what is it? Lightning in the guts? Fire, a high heel through the heart, or "an apple, extra fancy?" Many different answers can be found in this collection of poems written by teens from different backgrounds, places, and perspectives. Raw, sweet, tortured, and elated in equal measures, the verses here show love in all its goofy, painful, and chaotic glory with language that is frank and passionate. Whether you're straight, gay, or bisexual; dating, pining away for someone, or just a flirt; Falling Hard will make you nod your head in recognition--that's amore.

Fairy Tale Fantasy. In 19th-century colonial India, beautiful young Safia has just become the Rajah Ahmed Mudhi's eighth wife. She is certain that her new husband will kill her when he learns that she is not a virgin, but the moment of truth is delayed. While she awaits her doom, Safia befriends harem servant Lalit and tells him the story of a princess who was kidnapped by a demon and the young thief and sacred white tiger who set out to rescue her. Resplendent with Hindu mythology, beguiling language, humor, and adventure, this bittersweet novel of love and heroism will hold readers spellbound.

Adult Nonfiction. Cartoonist and author Lynda Barry's latest work is a visual feast and a contemplative wonder: every collage-filled page is crammed with ideas, inspiration, random weirdness, and sneaky revelation. But besides being great fun to look at, What It Is offers a creativity workshop by example, since it is about the artistic progression--and repression, stagnation, and resurgence--of Barry's own life. Activities at the end of the book will help budding writers and artists learn to express themselves freely and vividly, safe from nagging questions and the expectations of others. Here's "what it is": required reading for creative types, philosophers, and fans of sea monsters and magic cephalopods.

Nonfiction. OK, let's assume that you don't know what a zine is. Wikipedia defines the word broadly as "any self-published work of minority interest;" another way to think of zines is that they are avenues for extreme, autonomous self-expression--the live, local bands of the writing and art worlds. Interested? If so, you should read this book, whether you already create your own zine or have never heard of them before. It looks and reads like a zine, presents a history of independent publishing going back to the days of Ben Franklin, suggests ideas for zine topics, and details the tools and techniques of zine-making and distribution. Self-publishing enthusiasts might also like to check out Ellen Wittlinger's novel, Hard Love, which features two characters who make zines.

Adult Fiction. In this fictionalized memoir, author Dave Eggers tells the harrowing story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the estimated 17,000 "lost boys of Sudan." At  the age of seven, Valentino is separated from his family when his village in southern Sudan is attacked by Arab militia. From then on, his life is a nightmarish struggle to survive starvation, sickness, land mines, prowling lions, and refugee camps until he finally reaches America...where he is robbed at gunpoint in his own apartment. Moving and intense, this novel about one young man's real life experiences is one you won't soon forget.

Short Stories. These 15 interrelated stories revisit the same Harlem neighborhood and some of the same characters from 145th Street: Short Stories, and each of them is about love--between parents and children, between friends and neighbors, and between lovers. Whether you've read the previous collection or not, this one will draw you in, break your heart, make you laugh, and give you hope. Readers who long for stories that get the character, dialogue, and flavor of New York City's Harlem right will not be disappointed.