Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cather and her identical twin sister Wren have always been close, but now they are off to college and things are changing. Wren does not want to room with her sister so as the story begins Cather meets her new roommate Reagan. It is the first of many upheavals in Cath's first year.

Cath is a writer - mostly fanfiction of the hugely successful Simon Snow series (with more than a slight nod to Harry Potter). Her online fans (of which there are many) are eager to read her stories based on the popular characters before the real final book is released. Living in this made up magical world is sometimes easier than living in her own.

Things that cause a few road bumps for Cath during her first semester: her mother reappears in her life after leaving when she was 8 years old. Wren wants contact with their mom; Cather wants nothing to do with her. Their dad, a successful but stressed out advertising exec, has another mental lapse. Living without the girls at home means no one is there to keep an eye on his health. Oh...and Cath has writer's block on the assignment that is a huge part of her grade.

Unlike her sister, Cath has always been hesitant when it comes to guys. She 'dated' a guy for awhile but never felt the passion of true attraction. Now, she has Nick from her writing class who becomes a writing partner (but is there more to it?). And Levi, her roommate's boyfriend (one of several). He seems so different from her, and he is always smiling (Cath is NOT a smiler). It is difficult not to notice him when he is around all the time.

What I really like about this books is the depth of the characters. We get to know them. We understand their faults and struggles. These young people are so well drawn. There is one particular scene where one of the guys insists on carrying Cath's laundry (much to her dismay). She feels it is an affront to her feminine sensibilities. The exchange goes on for two pages, and it captures the humorous, smart and flirtatious nature of their relationship.

Cather is a wonderful character that I hope you get to know her, too.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Before the accident, Ezra was a star tennis player in his school. He sat at the table in the cafeteria. He dated Charlotte, one of the popular crowd. He was class president. Ezra began his assent years ago when his friend Toby became notorious through a sad twist of fate - Ezra broke away from Toby to avoid being stigmatized.

Ezra believes that everyone has a tragedy waiting for them and his turn came in the form of a car accident after he left a party (coinciding with his break up with Charlotte). He was sidelined for the whole summer and can no longer play tennis, ever. He starts his senior year with a wrist brace and a cane and all eyes on him. He knows he no longer belongs with the popular group (even when they try to coax him back).

So Ezra finds himself sitting with Toby and realizing how much he misses him. He also starts talking to the new girl, Cassidy. She is not like any other girl he has ever known. She wants him to find the real Ezra. They go places and do things he has never done before. There may be life after tennis for Ezra...as long as everything remains this good.

At one point in this story, Ezra confesses to being quiet because he has nothing interesting to say. Keeping quiet is safe - no looking stupid or boring. His words were the ones I heard in my own head when I was his age. I was never popular or athletic, but I was fearful of speaking out. I had friends but not many. I could have used someone like Cassidy to help me find myself (fortunatly, I found her as an adult). It is those moments when I read something familiar; something that reminds me of my own life that I truly connect with a story.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

When Chloe fell asleep in study hall, it was May of her junior year. She had just gotten in trouble for rescuing her best friend Maggie. Even though she's a bit of a risk taker, she hesitated before acting - it was enough to get the attention of Adam, a boy with a known criminal record. She wonders why she can't get Blake to notice her, too.

Chloe wakes up in the same chair but sees snow on the ground out the window. Blake is her boyfriend; Maggie is not speaking to her; and she is really popular and gets really good grades. She remembers none of it. The past six months is missing from her memory. How did so much change in such a short time?

Chloe is on a quest for answers. Touching Adam is all too familiar (and sometimes brings back flashes of memories). Blake is totally in boyfriend mode, but Chloe feels uncomfortable with him (which is so strange since Blake was her dream guy). Her SAT score is through the roof - way better than she should have been able to manage (but incredibly exciting for her parents). If only Chloe could remember...but if she asks anyone for help they might think she's crazy (she's certainly not going to tell her therapist).

It's a suspenseful ride as Chloe searches for an explanation and tries to get back to a life that resembles the one she does remember. Did someone do this to her and who can can she trust? And what about Julien whose family moved away after living in town for generations? She was part of the study group, too. It all seems connected...

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Permanent Record by Leslie Stella

What is the deal with dysfunctional parents in teen literature? These aren't just parents who irritate their children by just being parents (by making them clean their room, for example). These are parents who actively work against their children or ignore their suffering.

For Badi, his parents want him to keep a low profile and get good grades so he can go to college. It has been a tough time since 9/11 to be Iranian. The torment drove Badi to unspeakable acts at his last school. So he now attends a private Catholic school with a new American name, Bud Hess.

Bud is not a bad kid; he's really not. He has anxiety which can cause severe panic attacks. The medication and therapy are supposed to help, but when people think he's a terrorist there's is only so much he can take. Bud just wants to be a normal teen.

He doesn't expect much from his new school until he meets Nikki, a rebellious girl who hates the jocks as much as he does. The jocks get all the attention and money being raised while other clubs are being eliminated. Anonymous letters start appearing in the school newspaper stating similar views. A lot of people point the finger at Bud.

As the bullying gets worse for Bud, he tries to hide it from everyone. His parents willingly accept his lies only wanting him to stay out of trouble. When some things are finally revealed, they are only disappointed in him rather than showing support.

Bud is dealing with complex issues that are not easily dealt with. Life is like sometimes. Issues that some may think are easy take much longer to sort through.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Reality Boy by A.S. King

A.S. King once again gives us a teen with a troubled life who finds a way to escape even if only momentarily. When things get tough for Gerald, he zones out and goes to Gersday, an extra day just for him. All Gersdays are good days. He envisions eating ice cream and spending time with his sister, Lisi (who in reality has moved to Scotland just to escape the family). Why Gersday...

Gerald was only five when his family agreed to be on a reality show. It was one of those where they bring in a nanny (in this case an actress) to help the family deal with the children's behavior. For reasons I will not discuss, Gerald becomes known as the Crapper - not just in school, but nationwide. It is a name he is still called as a teenager. He was the focus of the show because he was the troubled one (or was he?).

The family already had serious issues (like Gerald's oldest sister Tasha being able to do no wrong in their mother's eyes). She would do something, blame Gerald and he would be punished. The reality show made it all worse. It manipulated the reality seen by the public, placed blame on the wrong people and didn't really solve anything.

Gerald cannot wait to escape - really escape like his sister Lisi.  For now, he works at a concession stand at the local arena. He works register #7 and often finds himself looking at the girl on register #1, but his anger management counselor tells him to stay away from girls because they will just cause him to get angry.

A.S. King creates such incredible characters and complex lives for them. You want so much for them to sort out their issues and find contentment. They are often trapped by their age with parents who are making their lives hell.  This author keeps getting better and better.

For more info, check out Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Fault Line by C. Desir

Ben didn't go to the party with Ani. Her friend Kate did, but she's not completely sure what happened. It was brutal and horrific and Ani will never be the same. Was she drunk? Did someone drug her? It was not like her at all, and no one knows who is to blame.

Ben meets Ani just before the start of his senior year. She was hard to ignore as she walked through the parking lot. Fortunately for Ben, Ani noticed him, too. Besides Ani's gorgeous looks, what Ben finds most striking is her directness. There is no BS with her; none of the typical games that Ben has experienced with other girls. The tension about sex is broken with Ani's straightforward personality.

There is no question that Ani was the victim, but rape has a way of making the innocent feel guilty. Ben blames himself for not going. Kate blames herself for not intervening. Ani just blames herself.

The aftermath can only be described as excruciating for all involved. Ben wants the old Ani back. He sees hints of her, but they are fleeting. He misses the playful, sexy girlfriend who he could talk to. But that Ani is gone, replaced with someone who only wants the physical and not the emotional connection.

This is not always an easy book to read. Everything goes from good to bad in one night, and there are no easy fixes. You can't be mad at Ben for not doing the right thing, because there is no obvious right thing to help Ani. It is a refreshing reminder that rape is not a crime for just the victim; it affects everyone in that person's life.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth

Have you ever hidden something from a friend because you were ashamed? I have. I don't know why I did it. Of all people, friends are supposed to accept you for who you are. It's risky, too, because it often leads to an awkward moment when the friend finds out the truth.

Feeling shame about yourself and your life is the underlying foundation of this story. Lewis is a Tuscarora Indian living on a reservation in upstate New York. It is the 1970s and life on the 'rez' is not so easy. Lewis lives in a run down house with no indoor plumbing. He lives with his mother who cleans the houses of white people and his Uncle Albert, a disabled vet.

Many people in the surrounding communities hate Indians (including one particular bully from an influential family), so for the most part they stay to themselves. Lewis earned a place in the higher academic classes of his mostly white school. Usually at least two Indians are put in the same academic level , but Lewis is the the only one and must be alone with no friends as he starts the school year.

On the first day, he meets a new kid named George, the son of an Air Force officer. George is warned to stay away from the 'wild Indian kid,' but he has been the new kid enough to trust his own judgement. Lewis and George quickly bond over their love of music, particularly the Beatles and Paul McCartney. Lewis is reluctant at first, but he visits George's house and eventually spends many evenings there having dinner and listening to albums. It is when George wants to visit Lewis' house that Lewis starts making lame excuses. How can he let George see the poverty of his everyday life?

Lewis is an original character. Even though he is physically small, he is very strong. He steps outside the comfort zone that many of his fellow Indians live in. He takes flak from both sides: whites for being 'distrustful' and Indians for befriending whites. He takes a lot from bullies, but stands up for himself when he needs to.

This story is an incredible view into the everyday existence of Indians and the delicate balance of surviving in a white dominated society while trying to maintain their own culture. I never imagined some of the hardships and 'rules' that must be endured by native people. I can only hope that in the 30 plus years since the 70s that things have changed for the better. I fear they have not.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian

Sex & Violence - it's a title that gets people's attention. Two words with general meanings that when put together can take on many connotations.

For seventeen year old Evan, sex is a casual pursuit. He has never gotten too attached to any of his partners. He has grown to look at women and admire them for the physical attributes and ponder the possibility of sex with them. The thing about sex is that you may not be the only person attracted to someone. For Evan, this is bad. Collette offers herself to him and he takes her willingly. When her ex-boyfriend finds out, Evan is cornered in the shower and brutally beaten.

Evan's dad moves them to the small lake Minnesota town where he grew up. Evan and his dad have moved many times since Evan's mother died, but he has never been to this place. Constantly moving has caused Evan to not form close relationships (with friends or lovers), so he is reluctant to befriend any of the other lake kids. He avoids doing things that bring back memories of his beating (like the shower). He also hesitates to hook up with any girl although the desire is there. It is particularly tricky with Baker who is dating a large athletic guy who could easily pummel Evan if he is not careful.

This book could have fallen into a typical story arc of Evan meeting the right girl and learning to trust in himself and others again. But life is not that easy. There are many issues being addressed in this story. For one, Evan's dad is acting differently. He is more casual and open and seems interested in the married woman next door. Two, the specter of Evan's uncle is never far away. Evan explores an off-limits island and finds things that bring him closer to an uncle who has just disappeared.

It's an amazing, complex story that does not tie up solutions to life's problems in neat little boxes.

For more info about this book, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's author's site.

Invasion by Walter Dean Myers

War is hell. It's a cliche, but it is so true. Walter Dean Myers holds nothing back in his depiction of the horrors of combat: the terror, the exhaustion, the hunger, the death, the blood, the dirt, the explosions. Imagine living a life where you could be killed any minute of every day; a life where you are talking to a buddy one minute and seeing him laying on the ground bleeding from a hole in his chest the next; a life where your fate is in the hands of leaders who sometimes seem as confused as you.

During World War II, Josiah Wedgewood (aka Woody) of Richmand, Virginia, lands on the beach with his platoon at Normandy and moves across France fighting the Germans. We are with Woody as he thinks about a girl at home; as he talks with fellow soldiers; as he sees friends die. Like Myers' other war stories, this on has no real plot; it is just the daily existence of soldiers in the middle of a war. There are only brief appearances of African American soldiers underlining the segregation that existed at the time in the armed forces.

This story is loosely connected to Myer's other books Fallen Angels and Sunrise Over Fallujah. Family members from three generations end up fighting in three different wars: in Europe, in Vietnam and in Iraq. How many generations must go to war? The futility of it all is part of Myer's point.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle

Five 6 year olds are sitting around a table. They talk and giggle with each other. They have been filmed for a documentary called Five at Six that explores the lives of the young classmates. The success of the film amazes even its creators. Five years later, another film is made called Five at Eleven with the same group. What are they doing now? How have they changed? Now, it is five years later...

Those happy little children have grown up and apart. Felix and Nate were best friends once; now they do not speak to each other, forget about sitting at the same table. Olivia suffered a humiliation in the last film, so she keeps her distance from everyone except Nate. Rory and Justine were once close, too, but things have happened.

Justine has been expecting the call about being in the next documentary. She doesn't want to do it. Her life has not turned out the way everyone expected (just check the internet) including her. She's the one who stood out among the five - the one who was supposed to become something. Now, she watches the documentaries and thinks about all the things she gave up and why.

The tension is high as the group is brought back together under the scrutiny of the camera. They are more savvy now and guarded about their lives and how much the really want to reveal. They know the most dramatic bits will be used in the film. Somethings have gone unsaid for years, so they are hesitant to talk for the whole world to hear. Justine knows on some level that all five of them are being manipulated.

In science, it is believed that you cannot observe a system without changing it. The lives of these five young people have been affected by being in the documentary. The film is not just capturing the lives of these young people as they go through normal changes, it is also capturing how the films have changed them. Is it good or bad? You will have to decide that for yourself.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.