"Chanda's Wars" by Allan Stratton

Chanda is ready to risk it all to keep her two younger siblings - Iris and Soly - safe from harm. Their mother died 6 months ago of AIDS, and Chanda is learning it's difficult to raise children in Africa, especially since civil war has broken out. They take a trip to visit relatives in a remote village, and get trapped there when rebel forces start to attack. General Mandiki is stealing children to recruit them for his army. Will they ever be able to return home?

"Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age" edited by Ariel Schrag

17 professional comics confess their painful memories from their time in middle school. From the inside cover - "Have you ever been called one of the following - Freak, Loser, Weirdo, Alien, Sucker, Slut, Skank, New Girl, Goth Boy, Crater Face? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have experienced the joys of middle school." These stories can help you feel that you're not alone, and most everyone has awkward moments and tries to fit in. Some stories made me crack up, others made me sad...but everyone has to go through it, whether you like it or not! Some "mature" situations and language, be warned.

"Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines" by Nic Sheff

Oprah let me know about this one. She had both Nic and his dad on her show to talk about how drugs can tear a family apart. Nic grew up privileged in San Francisco, with all opportunities available to him. He took his first drink at age 11, and quickly started a downward spiral into deep addiction. This book is dark and gave me the creeps. No details are left out, so I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with a queasy stomach, methamphetamines are not pretty. It really showcased the struggle of overcoming an addiction and how easy it can be to relapse. Nic's dad wrote his own memoir as well called "Beautiful Boy."

"Story of a Girl" by Sara Zarr

Deanna Lambert's got a bad reputation. Her dad caught her having sex in a car when she has 13, and her supposed boyfriend, Tommy, let the entire world know about it. She tries to start over, but her small town won't let her forget it. Her family life is a mess -- her dad can't seem to get past the incident, her mom is a working zombie, and her older brother Darren had to move back home when his girlfriend got pregnant. Deanna's story is really powerful and I thought this was one of the best books I'd read in a while. Good for 9th grade and up.

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Ender Wiggin is an extraordinary game player. His brain is so sharp and brilliant that he's been chosen to attend a prestigious Battle School, where students are trained in military combat. It's the future, and planet Earth is preparing for an invasion against the buggers - alien lifeforms that are determined to destroy our planet. Using high tech computer games to simulate fights and battles proves to be intense and exhausting. Every move Ender makes must be perfect, the future of the universe depends on it! Great science fiction writing.