Graphic Novel. In this sequel to The Plain Janes, the four founders of P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods), all of them girls named Jane, are still staging guerilla art attacks in the suburbs. But things are getting complicated: Officer Sanchez of the local police is determined to thwart P.L.A.I.N.; Main-Jane's mom is becoming ever more reclusive; and the Janes are short on cash (making art is not cheap). Plus, there's a school dance coming up, and each of the Janes is trying to summon the nerve to ask her crush to be her date. Readers who like gutsy girls, a touch of romance, and random acts of art will love the Janes--but reading the 1st book is crucial to following the story in this one.

Fiction. Normally, people have to die and then wait--in some cases, for centuries--before being declared saints. But 15-year-old Antonia Labella, who has been devoutly filling up saint diaries since she was eight, has also written to the Pope on many occasions to suggest new patron saint slots that she could fill (despite being alive). Shouldn't there be Patron Saints of Figs, Homework, and, surely, First Kisses? And doesn't Antonia deserve a passionate first kiss from her longtime crush, Andy Rottelini? Humor, romance, and true-to-life descriptions of Antonia's Italian-American neighborhood make The Possibilities of Sainthood a divine read.

Fantasy. Charlotte Usher would just die to be popular...even after she chokes on a gummy bear in physics class and, well, dies. Right when she's in the middle of stalking--er, that is, getting to know--dreamy Damen Dylan, the most popular guy at Hawthorne High! Being dead doesn't get Charlotte out of going to school; now she attends Dead Ed classes with other nonliving teens. Still, she's as determined as ever to win Damen's affections--nevermind that instead of just feeling invisible, now she is invisible...and, yes, dead. This snappy, darkly humorous story features quirky characters, great dialogue, and possibly the weirdest love triangle in teen fiction.

Fiction. Leon Sanders has clawed his way up the social ladder from punching-bag nerd to complete unknown, and next he hopes to catch the eye of beautiful Amy Green. But it's Leon's locker-neighbor Melody Hennon, severely burned from a childhood accident, who starts talking to him--and with whom, it turns out, he has a lot in common. How many high school girls like Monty Python, The Twilight Zone, and Leon's bad jokes? So Melody and Leon become friends, and then more than friends, and then...a miracle occurs and Amy asks Leon out. What now? If you liked An Abundance of Katherines, Girls for Breakfast, or I Love You, Beth Cooper, you should enjoy this angsty and hilarious read.

Horror. It's 1969. Bliss In-the-Morning-Dew has been raised on a commune by her hippie parents--who are taking off to Canada to dodge the draft and have left Bliss with her uptight grandmother in Atlanta. Now Bliss has to figure out how to behave in "normal" society, especially since her grandma has enrolled her in an elite private school. But as soon as she sets foot on the campus of Crestview Academy, Bliss hears a voice in her head whispering about blood and sacrifice...and the voice won't go away. Set against a late-60s backdrop that includes details about the Charles Manson murder trial, Bliss is a truly terrifying story of obsession, occultism, and revenge.

Urban Fantasy. After 17-year-old Lucy Scarborough learns that she is pregnant, she decides to keep the baby and dearly hopes that she can keep from losing her mind. But even with the stalwart support of her loving foster parents and her close friend Zach, this is a slim hope. The Scarborough women, you see, have lived under the curse of an evil Elfin Knight for generations--each one of them has given birth as a teenager and then promptly gone mad. To break the curse, Lucy must perform the three impossible tasks laid out in the ballad "Scarborough Fair," something no Scarborough woman has ever been able to do...but then, they didn't have the Internet, or the powerful magic of true love (and Lucy has both).

Fiction. After being abandoned by her mother as an infant, Hope Yancey has lived a nomadic life with her Aunt Addie, a talented and much-sought-after diner cook. Now the two of them are moving from Brooklyn to the small town of Mulhoney, Wisconsin, where they'll both be working at the Welcome Stairways diner. Soon, Hope discovers that she has a gift for waitressing, finds a boyfriend, and agrees to help G.T. Stoop (the owner of Welcome Stairways) wage his campaign to replace the corrupt current mayor. This warm and often very funny story about grassroots politics, romance, and family should achieve a landslide victory with fans of Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever.

Romance. After instinctively foiling an attempt to assassinate the U.S. president, unpopular and uninvolved high school sophomore Samantha Madison becomes a national celebrity, is named as the country's teen ambassador to the UN, and is suddenly in great social demand. Too bad she still can't get a date with Jack, her older sister's hot artist boyfriend (sibling rivalry in its purest form!). Hoping to make Jack jealous, Sam asks out the--decidedly cute--president's son instead. Presidential trivia, wacky plot twists, and general hilarity make All-American Girl tons of fun; if it gets your vote, be sure to also read the sequel, Ready or Not.

Nonfiction. Have you ever wanted to change the world? Maybe you see problems around you--whether it's intolerance or even violence in the halls of your high school, racism in your city, or a global problem like climate change--that you feel powerless to help solve. This book is a manual for teens who are concerned about important issues (such as war, AIDS, women's rights, civil rights, animal welfare, the environment, and many others) and want to take action but don't know how. Read success stories by other activist teens and dive into the information here and you'll be convinced: you don't have to be of voting age to make a difference.

Historical Fiction. Light-skinned, red-haired Harriet Hemings is one of Thomas Jefferson's household slaves at Monticello--and it is rumored that she may also be his daughter. Harriet has enjoyed a relatively easy life and feels safe at Monticello...until she is assaulted by Jefferson's grandson-in-law and must consider how she'll be treated once her master is dead. If she wants, she will soon be able to leave the only home she's ever known, for Jefferson has promised to free all of Sally Hemings' children on their 21st birthdays. But should Harriet do as other slaves are urging and move to the city to pass as a white woman? This powerfully emotional story provides historical perspective on the politics of race in America.

Political Thriller. Cooper Jewett has never known his parents; he's lived on his grandparents' New Hampshire dairy farm his entire life, and when his grandfather dies, Cooper is completely alone. He resolves to keep running the farm no matter what--but then his town is swarmed with dark-suited men driving black sedans; his barn is burned; and his house is broken into and searched. Just when it seems that things can't get any weirder, Cooper is whisked away to a secret meeting with the president of the United States...and learns that her opponent in the upcoming election wants Cooper to join him on the campaign trail. Huh?!? This lightning-paced, suspenseful read packs plenty of political intrigue.

Fiction. Teenage anti-consumerist prophet Josh Swensen--a.k.a. Larry--has been living under an assumed name in Colorado since faking his own death in The Gospel According to Larry. Now, at the urging of his childhood friend and first love, Beth (who has kidnapped him), Larry/Josh is coming back from the dead to run for president of the United States! Nevermind that he's only 18; Larry's immense popularity with America's youth and his support from politically minded celebrities like U2's Bono help to pass a constitutional amendment that makes him eligible for the office. Smart, funny writing; meditations on social issues; and drama both political and romantic make Vote for Larry a sure winner.