"The Ashleys" by Melissa de la Cruz

Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for Girls is one of the most prestigious prep schools in San Francisco. For years, 3 snobby Ashleys have made Lauren's life miserable with teasing and taunting. Even so, Lauren wants desperately to get into their popular clique. Lauren's dad becomes a multi-millionaire and the Ashleys suddenly take notice of Lauren's fashion makeover. Bentleys, Chanel, private jets, chauffeurs -- these girls know how to spend money, and lots of it! Good for 6th grade and up.

"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.

"Mister Monday" by Garth Nix

This is the first book in Nix's new series - "The Keys to the Kingdom." After nearly dying from a bad asthma attack, 7th grader Arthur is saved by a key shaped like a minute hand of a clock. Mister Monday is on a mission to get the key back. Arthur must venture inside a mysterious mansion, in which doors open onto alternate realms. The prophecy of The Will must be fulfilled and Arthur has been chosen to determine the fate of the universe. This is a great book for any fantasy lover - suspenseful and creepy!

"Always Running - La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A." by Luis J. Rodriguez

This powerful memoir recounts Rodriguez's youth as a gang banger in the barrios of East L.A. in the early 1960's. He served time in prison for attempted murder, had near-death experiences involving crack and heroin, and witnessed the premature death of many friends and neighbors. His language is raw and powerful, this autobiography was written to help deter his own son from following in his gang footsteps. Rodriguez found support within his community, and was able to break free of his gang activity. He is now a leading Chicano author. "Always Running" won a Carl Sandburg Literary Award, and was a New York Times Notable Book. In 1999 the American Library Association called Always Running one of the 100 most censored books in the United States.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley is keeping a diary. But it's really more of a journal, cause Greg wouldn't be caught dead in middle school with a diary. Greg's into weight lifting, video games, cartooning, and hanging out with his weirdo best friend, Rowley. This quirky book is pretty funny and has lots of tips on how to avoid getting your butt kicked by big 8th graders.

"Companions of the Night" by Vivian Vande Velde

Kerry sneaks out of her house to rescue her younger brother's stuffed bear, which he'd left at the local laundromat. She stumbles across a hostage situation and helps the imprisoned man escape, only to discover he's a vampire. Now Kerry finds herself hostage and her family has gone missing. Every choice Kerry makes either leads her one step closer to finding her missing family, or being turned into a vampire herself.

"10th Grade" by Joseph Weisberg

Jeremy is in 10th grade and has a pretty normal life. But what's normal for your sophomore year in high school? He plays sports, hangs out with the smokers during lunch, and has a huge crush on the most popular girl in high school, Rene Shopmaker. Jeremy's vivid imagination has Rene falling madly in love with him, and his fellow students ooh-ing and aah-ing at his superior athletic ability and masculine charm. Follow Jeremy as he navigates the social hierarchy of high school and finds his identity as well as a date for prom. Strong language, adult situations, best for upper high school.