Shiver, by Maggie Steifvater

I wouldn't say this book is better than Twilight, but I will go out on a limb here - the werewolf in this book, Sam, is more appealing than Twilight's Jacob.

In Shiver, the werewolves become human in warm weather and wolves in cold. Some of the werewolves love the wolf life. Sam, however, loves his humanity. When he saves the life of a human child from death by the pack, they form a bond. He watches her grow up, and she too watches for him, both denying deeper feelings until those feelings can no longer be hidden. Once their feelings are shared, they must fight. Sam fights to remain human, and Grace fights to keep him with her.

This is a terrific story of love and nature and what it means to be human. Not to be missed!

Movie rights have been sold, and this will eventually be a trilogy, so there is a lot of promise with this one.

Redwall, by Brian Jacques

This is the 1st book in a long series of fantasy/adventure books. The Guys Read website recommends this for high school level, and this book's checkout rate will help decide whether or not to get more of these. The rest of the series is available from the Jr. High library, so anyone who asks for sequels won't have long to wait.

Newes from the dead, by Mary Hooper

Based on a true incident, this is the story of Anne Green, a servant in a wealthy household in 1650 England who was seduced by a young member of the family she served, miscarried his child, and when she threatened to name him and damage his reputation, was put on trial for the murder of her miscarried baby. She was found guilty and hanged, only to awaken on the disection table surrounded by medical men about to begin the disection.

The story is told in flashbacks as Anne lies on the table paralysed, and from the perspective of a young medical student present to observe his first disection. The rigid class system of 17th century England is so different from the world we live in today, and stories like this remind me how grateful we should be for not being born to that era.

Nineteen minutes, by Jodi Picoult

The story opens with a school shooting incident - the nineteen minutes of the title. But after those nineteen minutes in Sterling, New Hampshire, nothing is ever the same for anyone. Lives of victims are over. Lives of surviving victims are irrevocably altered. And then there are other, indirect victims. And one more, the shooter, who has lived his entire life a victim.