"Stranded" by J.T. Dutton

Kelly Marie is forced to move back to her mom's hometown of Heaven, Iowa. Adjustment is not as easy as she would like. Her Nana is obsessed with keeping a clean house, and Kelly is forced to share a bedroom with her bible-loving cousin, Natalie. The town of Heaven is so rural, Kelly is worried she may die of boredom. Police discover a dead infant who was abandoned in local fields, and Natalie suspects her own mom may know more about the scandal than she's letting on.

"Does My Head Look Big in This?" by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Amal attends a highly prestigious prep school in Australia. She comes to the decision to wear the hijab, a Muslim head scarf, as a sign of her religion. How will Amal's friends and family react? This is a great book about friendship, faith, and coming to terms with your personal beliefs. Recommended for grades 7th and up.

"The Innocent's Story" by Nicky Singer

"Okay. This is what I think happened: I got blown up. Boom boom, explosion. Cassina Dixon, aged thirteen, is blasted limb from limb." A suicide bomber kills Cassina and her younger sister in an attack at a train station. Cassina must come to terms with her new identity as a para-spirit, a ghost being that can enter people's brains, and perceive the world around them. This novel starts off in a similar vein to "The Lovely Bones," with Cassina witnessing her family's reaction to the tragedy. It morphs into a more serious discussion on terrorism, religion, and a fictional mysterious sect called the T'lanni. Cassina attempts to discover how suicide bombers can justify their actions, and learns that another terrorism plot is on the horizon. Can Cassina prevent other senseless deaths from beyond the grave? Heavy subject material, not a happy book, but well written. For 9th grade and up.