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Alice in Lace
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Call Number: J FIC Naylo
"If you've read any other Alice books then this will be your favourite one yet! Like the others it's funny and exciting but this one has something that will make you love and remember the book forever!"
— Alicia, age 13

Avalon High
by Meg Cabot
Call Number: YA FIC Cabot
"If you've read any other Meg Cabot books, you'll love this one! She combines ancient myths and uses them in a modern, everyday setting. Plus, it's an awesome read for teenage girls. Hint, hint**"
— Lisa, age 14

Blindness
by José Saramago
Call Number: FIC Saram
"Saramago's "Blindness" is not a feel-good summer novel. It's not a nice, easy read, nor is it relaxing. It invokes no sugary romantic feelings. It does not make you laugh. To be frank, I did not enjoy reading "Blindness."

And yet, I can inexplicably say that "Blindness" is the most powerful book I have ever read in my life. It is about an epidemic, a plague of mysterious white blindness that has no cure. An absolutely terrifying novel, the story has a unique writing style that results from it being translated from Saramago's original Portuguese text.

I read it from start to finish without stopping and then became paranoid for the rest of the day. I can only imagine what horror the man that recommended it to me had experienced is he read the book while he was camping alone in the woods.

You should also note that there is some mature content. Reader discretion is advised."
— Edmee, age 14

Body of Christopher Creed, The
by Carol Plum-Ucci
Call Number: YA FIC Moria
"Amazing book! If you like mystery, this one's definitely for you. A thrilling read, that just keeps you wondering what will happen next. At times, it's a little weird, but in the end you'll come to realize that it was worth the read."
— Stephanie, age 15

Born Confused
by Tanuja Desai Hidier
Call Number: YA-PB Desai
"This book is about an Indian girl (i think she is Indian just like moi) that has been suffering the break up of her long time boyfriend. She has spent her whole life following her parents traditions. But now that she has turned 17 things are more complicated then ever. As if things weren't bad enough her parents arrange for her to meet a "Suitable boy". This book is about finding yourself, your love, your friends, and who really are. Even if you don't expect too. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys complicated realistic fiction! This will keep you winding! Enjoy...just like my friends and I did!"
— Natasha, age 13

Feeling Sorry for Celia
by Jaclyn Moriarty
Call Number: YA FIC Moria
"Amazing book. It was so easy to get into, fall in love with the characters, and feel like Celie is really your best friend. Pleae read this book. It deserves to be read. You'll understand why when you do."
— Rach, age 16

Give a Boy a Gun
by Todd Strasser
Call Number: YA-PB Stras
"This book is written in the perception of people that were involved in a fictional school shooting. It goes from the signs at the beginning, to geering up to the event, to the event, and then the aftermath. This was a fabulous fictional read about something that is so real. Especially with the recent school shooting which unfortunately took place in 2006. This book also provides footnotes of a lot of information, and it is very interesting to hear different accounts from different perception. Its so real you actually believed it was happening. That it did happen. I know I did. I strongly erge all teens to give this book a chance. It is definetely worth it."
— Natasha , age 13

Go Ask Alice
by Anonymous
Call Number: YA-PB Go
"Go Ask Alice is the diary of a anonymous teenage girl who came from a middle class family, had good grades, and didn't really have any problems and no reason to start her habit. What was her habit? Drugs. It all started when she got tricked at a party and got high. She couldn't stop herself. This is her diary. This is her story. This was a truly awesome book and even though the ending is sad its really a great read. It shows you the truly scary side of doing drugs. It shows you how it leads to other terrible things. Things ended badly for her because she couldn't stop. VPL does have copies of it which is great. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a read that they can enjoy but one that stays in their mind. If you search Go Ask Alice on the VPL website then you will see that it is under J-PB. There is one at the Bathurst Clark Resource Library and the Maple Library. There is also an answers book available if you want to learn more ABOUT the book. Enjoy!"
— Natasha, age 13

Gossip Girl
by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Call Number: YA-PB VonZi
"This is a book about the high enders, the rich teens, the trendy people that are so rich they can get away with anything. This book is for anyone who wants to get a good read that's funny, realistic, and relatable (to a certain extent of course). It has been called the "Sex and the City for a younger set" and it truly is. This is what Realistic Fiction is. For more info go to http://www.gossipgirl.net/ ! "
— Tash, age 13

Kat's Fall
by Shelly Hrdlitschka
Call Number: YA PB Hrdli
"A book about a teenage boy who has to go through life taking care of his deaf sister. How his sister really got deaf? What really happened to the kid he babysits? What a suprising mystery. I promise you will love this book!"
— Diane, age 15

Maximum Ride
by James Patterson
Call Number: YA-PB Patte
"The whole Maximum Ride series is capital J awsome!! They're about a 14 yr old girl named Maximum, aka Max and her "'Flock'" who all had bird genes placed in them before they were born by this secret lab that Max calls "'the School'", so they all have wings and are able to fly. When Max is 10, before the book starts, she and her flock - Fang and Iggy (boys, both younger than Max but also 14), Nudge (11 yr old girl), and Gassy (boy,8), and Angel (girl,6), the only two real blood siblings in the flock. As I was saying before, they were saved from the evil school/lab by a nice scientist named Jeb who cared for them but dissapeared when Max was 12. The book starts when Max is 14. The reason I love this book tonz is because of Max's aditude- and, boy does she has an aditude. The only reason I think anyone wouldnt like this book is b/c it can get a little gory- the school wants them back so they sent vicious wolf-human hybrids to bring them back, an they hae kinda gory fights. "
— Chel, age 13

On the road
by Jack Kerouac
Call Number: FIC Kerou
"This book is about a mid 20's guy in the 1950's and 60's, travelling the country by hitchhiking. It is a great adventure book, and not boring like most books about the old times. He travells more than 1 time, and meets alot of really interesting people on the way."
— Joy, age 15

Shadow Baby
by Alison McGhee
Call Number: FIC McGhe
"This book is about a young girl named Clara winter (who prefers the lower case "w" for various reasons...). It's basically about a year or so of Clara's life. Clara had never met her father before. Naturally, she tries to find out about her father, and about her twin sister who died at birth. During this time, Clara (who has an amazing personality) also makes friends with an old illiterate man. It's a very well-written book. It's everything - funny, sad, and most of all, touching. "
— Edmee, age 12

Son of Interflux
by Gordon Korman
Call Number: YA-PB Korma
"This hilarious book is about a boy name Simon Irving, the son of the head of a huge manufacturing company called Interflux. His father expects him to work at Interflux when he grows up; however, Simon (who has a great personality, by the way) would much rather become a painter. When he moves to a high school specializing in the arts, he becomes really happy. But is all that about to change when Interflux decides to build a factory right on top of Simon's school? Read this extremely well written story to find out!"
— Edmee, age 13

The Blue Girl
by Charles de Lint
Call Number: YA FIC DeLin
"An absosolutely amazing book. Witty, funny, and mystical but also has parts that really make the reader think. All in all an amazing read."
— An., age 14

The Clique
by Lisi Harrison
Call Number: J-PB Harri
"I highly recommend these books for fans of Mean Girls. The Clique's series are an awesome read for anyone who loves a great book that can't be put down."
— Jenna, age 13

The Outsiders
by S. E. Hinton
Call Number: YA FIC Hinto
"This is an amazing book about a gang of teens whose lives are all about their society. There are Socs(socials) the ones who are rich and stubborn and there are Greasers(who are not). The main character's name is Ponyboy and he is 14. This book is amazing and I recommend it to anyone who wants a great read."
— Emy, age 12

Ttfn
by Lauren Myracle
Call Number: YA-FIC Myrac
"~*~This book is about how 3 BFFs cope with one of them moving half way across America. How they deal with the pressures of having a bf. The whole story is in IM format. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl!~*~"
— Nicole W, age 14

Tuesdays with Morrie
by Mitch Albom
Call Number: LP 378.12092 Schwa-A
"Recently I read the inspirational book, Tuesdays with Morrie, for my English class. It tells the true story of Morrie Schwartz and his relationship with his student, Mitch Albom. It illustrates the lessons about life that Mitch learns from his professor, who is dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. It beautifully shines a light upon the themes of death, love, family, friends, the media, and giving back. I reflected upon the vital life lessons Morrie shared with Mitch. I realized that, in everyone’s life there is a Morrie, a parent, a mentor, a teacher, or a trusted friend who shares their wisdom with us. All we have to do is stop, listen, and learn. I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it to everyone. Everyone can learn as Mitch did from their Morrie."
— Sean, age 15

Twilight
by Stephanie Meyer
Call Number: YA FIC Meyer
"Where do I start? This book is just so good that there are no words to describe it!! I really recommend this book to everyone, and I mean everyone! This book will leave you mouth watering and wanting to turn the pages. You won't let the book down!! I really hope that you will read this awesome series! If you love romance books this series/book is right for you! The series books are: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn. "
— Jen , age 12

When the lion feeds
by Wilbur Smith
Call Number: FIC Smith
"Very nice book, lots of adventure and murder and piracy and sadness and such"
— Mark, age 15