Daughter of smoke & bone, by Laini Taylor

"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well."

The 1st words in this romantic fantasy warn the reader.

Blue haired Karou , 17 year old art student in Prague, has mastered the art of disguising her magical upbringing from her friends and others. Avoid talking about herself, and when forced, tell the truth with a faint sardonic smile. No one believes that her hair just grows that color; or that the monsters she draws in her sketchbooks are real; or that she travels the world via magic to collect teeth for the chimaera Brimstone who raised her from a baby.
But Karou has questions, because hideously ugly Brimstone has always refused to explain how he came to raise her, or where the door behind his desk leads, or why he needs the unending supply of teeth it is her job to acquire for him. And why although he is obviously a powerful magician, he refuses Karou any wishes but the smallest, most inconsequential ones. Then the angel Akiva attacks Karou from out of nowhere, nearly killing her before the attack stops as suddenly and mysteriously as it began. Akiva knows more about Karou than she does herself, but both have shocking things to learn in store for them.

This is a mystery, a fantasy, but most of all a love story. Well written and hard to put down once begun. The first of a planned trilogy, and among Amazon's top 10 books for 2011.

Magic and misery, by Peter Marino

TJ has never had a boyfriend and falls hard for the new boy in school, Pan, who is funny, classy, beautiful - and gay, as TJ learns when he outs himself in the course of a class discussion one day. The two become close friends. But when TJ starts dating Caspar, things get complicated. Pan is jealous of her time with Caspar, and Caspar is confused about TJ and Pan's friendship.

While I liked the story, there are things I really didn't like. The concept of a "new" emotion - fago - just seems to me to be something a little silly. Do we really need a new emotion? Then there is the matter of sex. For a book about relationships, it is treated way too casually. Readers would be better off reading Sarah Dessen and Alex Sanchez.

Chain Reaction, by Simone Elkeles

This is the 3rd book Elkeles has written about the Fuentes brothers. The oldest brother Alex's story is Perfect chemistry, which was followed by Rules of attraction about Carlos, the middle brother. And this is the story of Luis, the youngest brother. All good romances, and if you like one you will probably like them all. But I'm kind of glad there aren't any more Fuentes brothers, because all three books are pretty much alike and I would like to read something different by Elkeles.

Dash & Lily's book of dares, by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Christmastime in New York for two teens is livened up when Lily leaves a red notebook full of challenges on a shelf in her favorite bookstore and Dash (short for Dashiel) finds it and takes up the challenge. Both start to think a real life romance may be possible..........

This is good fun - I still like this pair of authors' other romance better tho. Nick and Nora's infinite playlist is worth reading and WAY better than the movie version!

Carter finally gets it, by Brent Crawford

Will Carter - freshman, ADD, stutterer, and add immature, clueless, too eager, clumsy, and earnest. You have to love a guy like that. Carter bungles his way through his freshman year trying way too hard to be cool and together and even though he misses the mark by a mile, the trip is, well, a trip.

Pretty dead, by Francesca Lia Block

Charlotte Emerson is a startlingly beautiful 17 year old, and has been so for nearly 100 years. She became a vampire way back then while in mourning over the death of her twin brother Charles, while searching for a way to dull the pain of that devastating loss. But a hundred years of immortality has brought it's own loneliness and loss, and when Charlotte loses her mortal friend Emily to suicide, she is again devastated. She turns to Emily's boyfriend Jared seeking comfort. At first he is bitter and angry with her, but she opens up to him telling about her past, and they begin to fall in love. Then William, the vampire who originally turned Charlotte turns up, and Charlotte is forced to face a horrific mistake from her past that may cost her the future.

This is an original take on vampire stories, and a better story than that cover art might lead you to believe.

Wolves of Mercy Falls series

The 1st book of this trilogy is on this year's (2012) Abe list, and has been a favorite love story at CHS for a couple of years. Now the

whole trilogy is in print, and it was worth the wait. It's a solid story that keeps up the quality of the 1st book. The werewolves are very different from the Twilight variety, switching from human to wolf with no supernatural abilities. Sam and Grace's love story has the center stage as they struggle to stay together even as their wolf/human identities tear them apart. But new characters are introduced, and angry, disolute rock star/werewolf Cole is a great story line that starts in Linger and continues thru Forever.

Water for elephants, by Sara Gruen

This won an Alex Award in 2006 as a book written for adults with special appeal to teens. I don't know that there needs to be to much of a line drawn between teen and adult books - every reader on either side of that line just needs to find their own loved books.

This tale set aboard a depression era circus train has lots going for it. It is first of all a romance, but the circus is full of memorable characters, not the least of which are Rosie the elephant, Bobo the chimp, horses, big cats. As the circus vet, Jacob Jankowski knows and loves them all. His love for Marlena, the beautiful (and married) equestrian star sets them all - humans and animals alike - on a dangerous path.

Before I fall, by Lauren Oliver

Samantha Kingston dies in a fiery car crash, but before she knows what is happening she is allowed to re-live her last day on earth several times before she learns how to make every minute count not only for herself but for others her life impacts. She tries desperately to change that fatal course of events, and with each try, the lives of others are changed for better or for worse, until she finally finds the way.

The forest of hands and teeth, by Carrie Ryan

Tho set in a future US, this world is unrecognizable as a virus plague has turned most people worldwide into zombies. Those humans remaining live in isolated pockets like Mary's village, where a chain-link fence protects the living from the living dead. the village is under constant seige from zombies, and when the fence is breached, Mary and Harry (her betrothed), Travis (her lover) and his betrothed, as well as her brother and his wife choose to escape into a fenced maze of paths, hoping to find a place they can survive.

The action is fast-paced and never predictable as the fugitives struggle against all odds to survive in a world where death is the only constant. This is the 1st of a trilogy, and CHS has them all.

Stay, by Deb Caletti

Clara's relationship with Christian became serious almost as soon as it began, and in spite of her father's and her best friend's reservations, Clara falls in love hard. But what starts out as a fairy tale romance soon shows a dark side as Christian's obsession and jealousy begin to show and Clara knows that Christian will stop at nothing to make her stay with him.

Now Clara and her Dad have rented a cabin on the beach, lied to everyone about their wherabouts, changed Clara's phone number, and are hoping that a summer away will convince Christian that their romance is truely over. But Clara knows Christian, and knows that she has reason to be afraid.

Ending relationships is seldom easy. Ending unhealthy ones can be dangerous. This story is well told, and one to think about.

Amy & Roger's epic detour, by Morgan Matson

This may be the best road trip story ever. Amy has been living alone in California since her Dad's death and her Mom's new job forced Mom to relocate to Connecticut a month before school was out for the summer. One of Mom's friends has a son, Roger, who has agreed to drive Amy to Connecticut, since Amy can't bear to drive since the car accident that took her father's life. Roger has his own motives for agreeing to the trip - like catching up with the girl who just dumped him without any explanation. So the two who barely know each other set out across country on an adventure that quickly hits detours as the planned cross-country itinerary gets tossed out the window and two good people start getting back on their feet with each other's help.

Summer romance, yes, but also friendship and healing, humor, and a good time.

Gemini bites, by Patrick Ryan

Kyle and Judy Renneker are twins with an uneasy relationship. They have been bickering and competing with one another for years, and their 16th year brings new complications as Kyle comes out of the closet and Judy pretends to be a born again Christian to land a new boyfriend who leads his own bible study.

The twins already thorny relationship is further complicated by the arrival of Garret Johnson - a strange loner about whom there are all kinds of hushed rumors - including one that he is a vampire. Garret's family is moving again, and the Rennekers have offered to let Garret stay at their home to finish out the school year. The twins are both attracted and intruiged, and the competition goes into high gear.

This isn't going to satisfy anyone who loves the high drama supernatural stories. But the low key, realistic family drama here is a nice change of pace and the story is well told.

Played, by Dana Davidson

Ian wants to get into an exclusive group at school. The initiation? Hook up with a "dog" and then drop her, with extra points if he gets her to fall in love with him. Kylie Winship is overwhelmed with Ian's attention, and falls hard. But things get complicated when Ian starts to think twice about his values, and Kylie has to think twice too about a guy who acts one way with his friends and another when they are alone.

This is written by a high school teacher from Detroit, and I like the way that neither Ian nor Kylie is all bad, or all blameless either. Both learn some hard lessons about love.

Beastly, by Alex Flinn

This adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale Beauty and the Beast is proof (once again)that fairy tales are not just for children. With due respect to Walt Disney, this story works much better as a young adult tale. The theme of a handsome but heartless male bewitched so that his exterior is as ugly as his personality is timeless. His inner transformation is a journey worth reading, and his final redemption through the love of a girl - satisfying. Alex Flinn throws enough twists into the classic tale to keep readers who know where the story is going entertained along the way. This is plain fun.

The cardturner, by Louis Sachar

How are we supposed to be partners? He can't see the cards and I don't know the rules! But pushed by his money-hungry parents, Alton becomes his blind Uncle Lester's cardturner - helping Uncle Lester play tournament bridge. Alton narrates the evolution of his relationship with Trapp (the Uncle Lester stuff is the 1st thing to go) as he becomes intrigued with Trapp, with the game of bridge, and especially with Toni Castenada - the pretty and shy girl whose link to Trapp is somehow tied to Trapp's fabled romantic history. Alton soon learns that things aren't always what you have been told, and appearances don't tell the whole story either.

Alton's not into drama. His self-depreciating sense of humor and his wry observations carry him through a summer full of life changing events in (almost) perfect control. His mother's money-hungry advice rings in his head - Don't screw it up, Alton. But there is more than money at stake, and Alton has his own priorities straight.

Illyria, by Elizabeth Hand

Magic. The magic of forbidden love between Maddie and Rogan. The magic of theater as the two lovers perform the lead roles in a production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. And magic in their discovery of an old toy stage made of paper and cardboard - a stage that lights, that changes backdrops and that snows as unseen actors perform to an invisible audience. Their love is as fragile and inexplicable as that paper stage. But there is magic.

Black hole sun, by David MacInnis Gill

Durango is a 16-year-old mercenary on Mars, barely scraping by, when he is offered the job of protecting the treasure found by an an impoverished band of miners from a race of vicious cannibals. The action is fast and violent. Newly colonized Mars is inhospitable and lawless. And Durango is wonderful - tough as nails, as principled as King Arthur, a hero straight out of the Wild West keeping his small band alive by bravery and wits and an unbreakable code of honor.

"Have gun will travel reads the card of a man -- A knight without armor in a savage land -- His fast gun for hire heeds the calling wind -- A soldier of fortune is the man called Paladin -- Paladin, Paladin, where do you roam? -- Paladin, Paladin, far, far from home." - Theme song from Have Gun, Will Travel (1950's TV Western) If they ever make a movie of Black Hole Sun, I want this as the theme song.

How I live now, by Meg Rosoff

This is a dystopian novel without a hint of fantasy or science fiction. It's a realistic story of 5 teens in wartime - cut off from any outside help and caught in an ever tightening noose of deprivation. The story is narrated by 15-year-old Daisy, who has escaped a hated life in New York with her recently remarried father and pregnant step-mother. Shortly after her arrival in the English countryside to visit her loving aunt (her dead mother's sister) and 4 cousins, her aunt is killed, the war erupts, and all of their lives are forever altered.

Cut off from outside information, media, supplies, with rumors raging, and facing the fear of an uncertain future, Daisy and her cousin Edmund draw close. As fear, hunger and deprivation mount, their relationship grows in equal measure - love balancing terror.

Love and war leave indelible scars in a powerful and moving story.

Paper towns, by John Green

I didn't read this book for a long time after it arrived at CHS, mainly because I couldn't get any kind of take on what it is about. Now I've read it, and loved it, and am at a loss for words to explain what it is about without giving up the entire thing. Hmmm. Love - loss - the things that keep us going and the things that break our hearts. I can't explain it either. But I think John Green is one of the best authors out there writing.