"The Disenchantments" by Nina LaCour

“We felt so small with the city lights stretching forever below us, and we yelled at the top of our lungs because we were just these small humans but we felt more longing than could ever fit inside us.”

Colby and Bev have made plans to travel to Europe after graduating from high school. College can wait for a year, exploring the world and doing their own thing is more important. Bev is the lead singer of a band with her girlfriends Alexa and Meg. They call themselves the Disenchantments. They are super loud, somewhat talented and love to rock out and get crazy.

The band decides to embark on an epic road trip for a west coast tour before Colby and Bev leave for their trip. Colby borrows his uncle’s beloved VW van, named Melinda, and they hit the road, ready for adventure. But when Bev confesses she got accepted, and is going to college, Colby is left heartbroken, and without a plan for his future. Colby has been in love with Bev for years, but their relationship has never gone beyond friendship.

Without Bev in his future, Colby must find his own personality and rely on his own strengths to empower himself. In the meantime, he's busy playing stagehand to the band, and the token male in their artistic collaboration. The excitment of the road trip, the thrill of live music and the reality of high school graduation all come together to make the Disenchantments an enjoyable ride.

LaCour's characters are honest, powerful and on the cusp on adulthood, embracing what life experiences have to offer them. Some f-bombs, sexual situations, some alcohol, probably best for 8th and up. Highly recommended.

"Ivy" by Sarah Oleksyk

Ivy is so ready to be done with high school. She longs for escape and hopes to get accepted into an art school, far away from her small town in Maine. She's been raised by her single mom, and lately it seems everyone is against her. Her friends don't want to hang out as much, her teachers are giving her detention, and her nemesis in art class is driving her insane. But when Ivy meets a cute guy at an art school convention, things look like they're picking up, until they fall apart again. Quirky and sincere coming-of-age graphic novel. Mature subject matter, so probably best for older teens.

"Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick

Even better than Hugo Cabret! Masterpiece work of art and story perfect for all generations. Two stories are told, one in print, the other in gorgeous black and white drawings. Ben lives with his aunt and uncle after his mom dies. They live on Gunflint Lake in Minnesota in 1977. Rose is obsessed with a famous actress. She lives with her dad in a beautiful mansion in Hoboken, New Jersey, overlooking the city skyline of New York City. Rose is living in 1927. Ben is determined to find the father he has never known. Rose is determined to find the actress who influences her life in powerful ways. Both Rose and Ben run away to New York City to look for missing clues, each trying to piece together their own puzzles. Selznick seamlessly intertwines their stories with compassion, curiosity and a sense of true wonder. I loved "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" when I was young. This book almost made me cry with its references to this classic tale about running away, hiding out in your favorite museum, and trying to make sense of it all.

"Badd" by Tim Tharp

Ceejay has always been close with her older brother, Bobby. He is charismatic, smooth and wild at heart. When he gets caught stealing a car, Bobby has to decide between jail and the army. Bobby has been serving in Iraq, and Ceejay misses him terribly. She is both stunned and thrilled when Bobby comes back to town early and unannounced. Something isn't quite right, his behavior is moody and he's not acting like himself. He doesn't want to associate with the family and he's heavily drinking and doing dangerous drugs. There is an old, hippie musician in town named Captain Crazy. He is known for his unusual art sculptures and erratic behavior. Ceejay sees him protesting the war, and she gets very defensive about her brother and his tour of duty. But when Bobby and the Captain develop an unlikely friendship, Ceejay tries her best to support him. Each family member has their own way to deal with Bobby's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Tharp also wrote "The Spectacular Now," which was a National Book Award Finalist. This is a powerful account of a family dealing with war in current times. It is well crafted and the characters are realistic and believable. There are lots of references to drugs and sex, but the main character Ceejay is pretty level headed and has disapproving perspectives on those behaviors.

See What I See

Kate's dad, Dalton Quinn, is a famous artist. He gained notoriety for his grisly paintings that shed a dark light on society's woes. His work has been on display in prestigious galleries throughout the world, and his reputation as an artist is both admirable and impressive. His qualities as a father, however, leave a lot to be desired. Dalton abandoned Kate and her mom years ago, so he could pursue his art, along with drinking and other women. Kate grew up in a trailer, while her mom worked extra hours to make enough to get by. When Kate grows up, she realizes she has her own art talent, enough to win a scholarship to art school in Detroit. And it just so happens that Detroit is where her estranged dad has been living. Kate is determined to repair their relationship. She's convinced that by showing up at his doorstep, her dad will take her in with open arms. Instead, she finds a grouchy, mean man, coming to terms with his own mortality. Their relationship is turbulent and awkward, but as Kate learns more about her father's condition, they learn to depend on each other for what it's worth.

"Scars" by Cheryl Rainfield

Kendra's memories are starting to resurface. She knows she's been abused, but she can't remember who hurt her. Her dreams and recollections are hazy, but she's sure it's someone who is close to her, and she's having problems trusting people. It's bad enough with the memories, but things have taken a turn for the worse. Her abuser has started to stalk her, to make sure she keeps quiet and doesn't remember.

Kendra has her art. Art gives her a way to express her emotions and anger. And she also has cutting. She knows it's dangerous and harmful, but sometimes it seems like the only way to become numb to her horrifying memories, and keep her abuser at a distance.

She develops a special friendship with Meghan. When Meghan discovers Kendra's past, her concern escalates as Meghan's self-destructive behavior spirals out of control.

"From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg

Claudia is extremely bored with her normal routine. She wants to feel different and grown-up. She convinces her younger brother Jamie to run away with her. Claudia has the plan, and Jamie has the piggy bank, so together they should make a great team. They take the train from their small Connecticut town into New York City, where they take up residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Living at the museum is harder than you'd think. They have to hide from security guards, take baths in strange places, and they're on a fixed income. But they have plenty of time to admire and learn about art. Claudia becomes transfixed by one statue in particular, called Angel. Claudia suspects it was created by the famous artist Michelangelo, and she is determined to solve the mystery and find out the truth.

"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.

"A Map of the Known World" by Lisa Ann Sandell

Cora's older brother Nate was killed in a car accident, and her grieving family is falling apart. The teachers and students at Nate's old high school take pity on her and she is losing her best friend to the popular crowd. But art class is her escape. Cora has a passion is for making maps -- maps of places she's been and where she wants to go. Her parents don't approve of Cora hanging out with Damian. He was her brother's best friend, and was riding with him during the accident. But Damian seems sincere, so Cora continues to see him behind her parents' back. Her art teacher encourages her to apply for an art program in London and life appears to be improving. As their romance blossoms, Cora learns of a sensitive side of her brother she didn't know existed.

"The Opposite of Invisible" by Liz Gallagher

Alice has been best friends with Jewel (guy) for a long time. They do everything together - drink lattes, art projects and hang out all the time. Alice ends up ditching Jewel to go to the big Halloween party with Simon, one of the popular jocks at school. Their dating totally ruins their friendship and puts Alice in a new social status at school. Alice has to figure out which guy is best for her to date. Alice lives over in Fremont, so it's fun to follow the characters around Seattle.

"Plain Janes" by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

After a major terrorist attack (9/11?) , Jane's parents move her to suburbia to attend a new high school. Jane meets 3 other girls named Jane in the cafeteria and they form a secret club called the P.L.A.I.N.--People Loving Art in Neighborhoods. they create stellar art projects and have the city stumped as to who's behind these installations. Cool illustrations. reminded me of "Ghost World."