Tweens and Teens

The Hunger Games
ISBN 978-0439023481
Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
ISBN 978-0439023498
By Suzanne Collins
Imagine a country, similar to the United States, sometime in the future, that unites its citizens through a televised reality show. The show takes two teens from each district and brings them to the Capitol to participate in “The Hunger Games,” a game that only has one victor. The rest will all be dead. Katniss has had to take care of her family and can not bear to have her younger sister participate in the games, so she chooses to take her place. The other contestant from her district is the baker’s son. Although they know each other, only one will come home. The first book is impossible to put down, while the second will leave the reader hanging for the third. Any teen (boy or girl) on your list will thank you for these books! Recommended for Grade 7 and up. ~Joyce

The Book Thief
By Marcus Zusak
This historical fiction of World War II Germany is narrated by Death. It is the story of Liesel Meminger, of Molching, Germany, foster daughter to Hans and Rosa Hubermann of Himmel (heaven) Street. Liesel is the book thief, even though she can not read. Hans teaches her to read with the book she stole, The Gravedigger’s Handbook. This is a story of the power of words, of love and the human heart, and survival. It is for high school teens and adults. An unforgettable read. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0375842207

Heartsinger
By Karlijn Stoffels, translated from Dutch by Laura Watkinson
This is a magical, fantastical, beautiful love story with intertwining characters and storylines, pulled together by Mee, the singer of sorrows. Appropriate for grade 6 and up. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0545069298

Guardian Of The Spirit (Moribito)
By Nahoko Uehashi
This Japanese import features many familiar martial-arts fantasy elements: magic, nonstop action, swordplay, a puzzling myth, dangerous plot twists, and a strong-willed, flawed hero on a quest. What’s surprising is that the “hero” is a weather-beaten, thirty-year-old heroine: Balsa Spear-wielder, an itinerant bodyguard. After Balsa saves Chagum, the son of the Mikado, Chagum’s mother hires Balsa to protect him; she is certain that Chagum will be murdered because he is host to a mythical creature, a fact that belies the divine nature of the Mikado. Balsa must solve a mystery involving the creature and protect Chagum from both the Mikado’s elite forces and an otherworldly monster. The Moribito series is enormously popular in Japan. Grades 6-9. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0545005432