Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

At the young age of thirteen, Lacey has certainly had her share of worries. Her mother's mental illness puts the two of them in financial and physical troubles, and no one is around to help. But when her mother gets a job at the local grocery store, Lacey hopes life will change. In fact, she even begins a friendship with Aaron, her neighbor. But, when her mother disappears, Lacey realizes that she cannot keep the family together alone, so she seeks help.

Personal Thoughts: This psychological thriller definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. What I enjoyed most was Lacey's growth. She is a believable character, whose honesty amazed me. I felt her frustration in dealing with her mother and her sadness in deciding that her mother needs to move to a safe place.

The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor

After her high-school band, the Caverns, breaks up, Regina wants to remain playing music; in fact, she wants to be as well-known as the Beatles. Well, her wish comes true. As Regina wakes up the next day, she discovers that she is a pop-star. The Caverns now have the status and songs formerly associated with the Beatles. But is stardom all she expected? When given the choice, will she go back to being the unknown Regina?

Personal Thoughts: As a music enthusiast, I really enjoyed this book. Greg Taylor knows quite a lot about music! Watching Regina grow and mature was fun, especially when she had to realize the truth about happiness.

The Enemy by Charles Higson

What happens when children are the only ones to survive? In this dystopian thriller, adults are the minority, and those who survived a deadly disease are covered in boils. Arran and Maxie organize and work to keep their group of kids safe. However, just when they believe they have found safety, things change.

Personal Thoughts: I can't share too much about Higson's novel without giving the storyline away, but I will tell you that I was hooked from the start! I cannot wait to begin reading the prequel, The Dead.

Matched by Ally Condie

In a novel set in the future, The Society controls everything - food, jobs, marriage. Cassia attends her "matching" ceremony, only to find that she has been matched with two boys: Xander and Ky. How could The Society make such a mistake? Who will Cassia choose?

Personal Thoughts: What a fantastic read! Cassia's journey to discover the truth about herself and the truth about Xander and Ky is powerful. I can hardly wait for the sequel, Crossed. It's due out November 1, 2011.

Visit http://www.allysoncondie.com/ and check it out!

Stuck on Earth by David Klass

Humans are "the laughingstock of the universe" and the planet is about to be vaporized. But there is hope. Ketchvar III takes over the mind of a middle-school nerd to see if humans should live or die. Once inside Tom's brain, Ketchvar learns lessons about the power of the human spirit as he watches Tom overcome class bullies and heartache. Will Ketchvar III's observations help save the planet?

Personal Thoughts: Klass' novel made me laugh and cry. Klass accurately portrays a middle-school boy through the character of Tom.

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

When Elizabeth begins her job at the New York Circulating Material Repository, her life changes. She's given access to the Grimm Collection, a room that houses all of the objects from the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales. The items, including glass slippers and magical mirrors, start to disappear, and she must help find the thief or take the blame.

Personal Thoughts: I grew up listening to my parents read fairy tales, so I really enjoyed this book. If you love fairy tales that twist and turn, you will love Shulman's book!

Fantasy Series by Cinda Williams Chima

http://www.cindachima.com/

I LOVE all books by Cinda Williams Chima.

Visit her website to read summaries and watch book trailers for

The Warrior Heir and The Demon King series.

If you love fantasy, adventure, and romance, you will enjoy Chima's books.

I cannot wait for the next book in each series to arrive.