memoirs of a teenage amnesiac (Farrar, Stauss and Girioux, 2007) by Gabrielle Zevin is very, very good. It's an interesting concept, and very believable.

16 year old Naomi fell and hit her head. She can't remember anything from the last 4 years: her boyfriend; her parent's divorce; her half sister; her best friend, Will Landsman, who calls her Chief; why she loves working on the Yearbook; French; how to drive a car. She doesn't know why she was with Ace; she's interested in James, the new guy, who rescued her when she fell. She decides she doesn't like who she was. THEN, she remembers . . . everything!

Go to author Gabrielle Zevin's website to read about all the awards this book has garnered. There's also a book trailer, and news that it's being made into a movie!

Gabrielle also wrote Elsewhere (review here) and a number of books for adults.

How to Steal a Dog (Frances Foster Books an imprint of FSG, 2007) by Barbara O'Connor is winning awards: Kansas' William Allen White Award (3rd-5th grade book) and the South Dakota Children's Prairie Pasque Award.

"The day I decided to steal a dog was the same day my best friend, Luanne Godfrey, found out I lived in a car." How can you not read on after reading that line? The rest of the book holds up to that beginning, too.

Good story about what happens after a father abandons his family and truthful look at the struggles (laundry, hygiene, food, frustration). Georgina tries to fix their homelessness herself. We see her bad attitude towards her mother, how her little brother figures out things she should have, and her notebook about how to steal a dog. Through the help of a bum, Georgia learns about forgiveness.

Barbara O'Connor has published 8 novels and 6 biographies. Read more about her here.

Shiver (Scholastic, 2009) by Maggie Stiefvater

Grace was attacked by the wolves when she was small, but "her" wolf saved her from the others.

When it gets cold Sam is a wolf. He's been staying a wolf longer and longer and this may be the last time he's a human.

The story is told from both Grace's and Sam's viewpoints.

You don't want to miss this story of love, betrayal, and reconciliation. Neither do you want to miss the book trailer on Maggie's site.

And wait! A sequel, Linger, is coming this summer! A third book, Forever, is also planned.

In The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Henry Holt and Company, 2009) 11 year old Callie Vee is the middle child between 3 older brothers and 3 younger brothers. She's also caught in the middle of wanting to learn about nature with her grandfather and her mother's desire for her to learn womanly pursuits. This historical novel by Jacqueline Kelly is funny, interesting, touching. I love the relationship between Callie and her grandfather, her struggles in the kitchen, the music she likes to play, her conversations with Viola their cook, her misunderstandings of what the future might be, the excitement and interests as new things like the phone and automobiles begin to affect their lives.

I believe the Newbery honor award for this book was well deserved.

And it's Jacqueline's first book! Read about Jackie at her publisher's site or on her own website. There's also a fan page on Facebook.

Because the squirrel got in the house and Mama had to have surgery on her knee, Ronnie has to take care of her younger brother, Gee, who is ADHD. When their only living relative, her grandfather who lives and travels in an RV, shows up. He agrees to take the kids on a trip. But she knows Gee will ruin the trip, which he does. But if you want to know how, you'll have to read J.B. Cheaney's The Middle of Somewhere (Knopf, 2007), which she herself describes as a "road trip from hell."

The Middle of Somewhere was named a 2008 Kansas Notable Book by the Kansas State Library. Ms. Cheaney's book has recently been nominated for the 2010-2011 Young Hoosier List. She also writes good historical fiction. Read more at her website.

Try early 1900s when you are forced to leave your father and go to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School where people look down on you!

In Sweetgrass Basket (Dutton, 2005) Mohawk sisters, Mattie and Sarah, are sent away after the death of their mother. This novel is told in verse and from both girls' viewpoints. It's hard for them to have to think in English and to give up their culture, but it's harder knowing they can't see their father.

Thanks to Readergirlz for introducing me to this historical novel!

Marlene Carvell was inspired to write this story based on her husband's great-aunt's experience. Read more about the author at Readergirlz and her own site.

Despite having to suspend my disbelief at the agreement that forms the premise of this book, I can't forget Unwind (Simon and Schuster, 2007) by Neal Shusterman. In this story abortions aren't allowed, but when kids are between the ages of 13 and 18 parents can choose to have them "unwound," where all body parts will be used. Of course, people always find a way to get rid of unwanted babies, in this case by "storking." This powerful story presents multiple sides of the issues. Meet the characters who will be unwound: Connor, because he's a trouble maker; orphan Risa, to save expenses; and Lev, a tithe dedicated from birth. Once you're hooked, you'll find it hard to put down.

See Neal talk about some of the inspiration for this award winning book here. Then check out this brilliant author's long list of books.

I recently read two award winning books which give some insight into the Hispanic culture. Both were very good and in both the main character grew and changed.

Red Glass (Delacorte, 2007) by Laura Resau features Sophie, who is afraid of everything. She and her family have taken in her great aunt, Dika, a refugee from Bosnia, and Pablo, a 6 year old Mexican boy, whose parents die trying to cross into America. Dika meets Mr. Lorenzo and becomes friends. Mr. Lorenzo, his son, Angel, Dika, and Sophie travel to Mexico to take Pablo to his village to see if he wants to be with his family there and for Angel to find his lost mother. The story is powerful and memorable and Sophie learns what is important to fear and what is not.

Laura has another book coming out this month. Read more at her website: http://www.lauraresau.com/.

Mexican WhiteBoy (Delacorte, 2008) by Matt de la Pena has a character with several dilemmas. First, Danny is white to the Mexicans and Mexican to the whites. He lives with his mom and step-dad in San Diego, but goes to spend the summer with his Mexican uncle's family. People in National City don't understand why he can't speak Spanish. Secondly, Danny's great at baseball, especially pitching, but at his private school in San Diego, he can't keep control over the ball. In National City he becomes friends with Uno who has a Mexican mother and a black father. The two help each other figure out what is going on in their lives. Warning: This book does have language that may be offensive, however, it does fit the culture.

Matt also has a new book coming out this month. Check it out at his website: http://www.mattdelapena.com/index.html.

Saving Francesca (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2004) by Melina Marchetta is not a book to easily forget. One morning Francesca's depressed mother won't even get up. Francesca is also one of the new girls at a boys' school that has been forced to add girls. She thinks she has nothing in common with anyone there. Discovers the ones she thought were her friends at her previous school were sucking the individuality out of her. Her new friends accept her for who she is. The story ends with hope as the family begins to work out their problems.

Francesca is very real and believable. Enjoy the journey of her learning that it's okay to be who she is. The story is set in Australia. (No surprise since the author is from there!)

Author Melina Marchetta recently won the 2009 Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature for young adults for Jellicoe Road (HarperTeen). Read more about her at her website.

Penny from Heaven (Random House, 2006) by Jennifer L. Holm definitely has good voice. It's 1953 and Penny can't go swimming because of the fear of polio. She lives with her mom and Pop-pop and Me-me, but spends a lot of time with her dad's side of the family. Nonny still doesn't speak good English and Uncle Dominic lives in his car, but the food is great at her grandmother Falucci's house. Readers will learn along with Penny how her father died and why the two families don't have much to do with each other.

This book is a 2007 Newbery honor book. Author Jennifer L. Holm also won a Newbery honor for her first novel, Our Only May Amelia. Read about her other books here.

If you've ever read any Christopher Paul Curtis, you'll expect his historical novel Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic Press, 2007) to have good voice. You won't be disappointed. From the humor of hoop snakes to serious business of freed slaves saving money to buy their family member's freedom, this story flows.

Fra-gile Elijah is 11 and the first free born child of freed slaves in the community. Everyone remembers how as a baby he throwed up on Frederick Douglas, but by the end of the story Elijah accomplishes something else that he thinks they'll be remembering instead.

Memorable story!

Christopher is a great speaker, too. If you ever get a chance to hear him, go! Here's his website.