"The Kite Rider" by Geraldine McCaughrean

What if you had to do everything your parents told you to? In 13th century China, kids have to obey their elders with respect. Even if they are mean, horrible people!

Young Haoyou sees his father murdered by his evil boss. His family is poor and doesn't have enough food to eat. His uncle Bo is now in charge of things, but he spends all the family money gambling and drinking. Uncle Bo makes Haoyou take a job with the traveling circus. But not just any job...he's the amazing flying boy on a kite. It's dangerous, thrilling and gives him notoriety and exposure to the great ruler Kublai Khan. The circus is an exciting life, but being away from his mother and sister is tough....will life ever get any easier?

"Hold Still" by Nina LaCour

Caitlin should have seen it coming. She should have been able to save her. Her best friend, Ingrid, committed suicide and Caitlin is overcome with guilt about her inability to prevent this tragedy.

Returning to school for her junior year should have provided a sense of normalcy. But her fellow classmates are unsure how to deal with her emotions, and she finds herself lonely, irritable and confused. Caitlin becomes friends with a new student, Dylan, and starts hanging out with her crush, Taylor. Both provide temporary distraction from her pain.

Caitlin’s parents are concerned about her behavior and encourage her to seek therapy. Caitlin finds Ingrid’s diary tucked under her bed. As she reads through her diary entries, she’s confronted with the reality of her friend’s depression and how well she hid her insecurities and emotions. There’s a lot she has to learn about her best friend, and herself. This is a powerful, raw, first novel, with beautiful illustrations, and hand-written diary entries. I highly recommended Hold Still for anyone who enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why.