"The Arrival" by Shaun Tan

With the current immigration legislation in Arizona, I was feeling inspired to re-read “The Arrival.” This book can transport you to a place that is truly magical, mysterious and enticing, all without using any words. In my mind, this is a true work of genius. A man packs up everything his owns, leaves his home and family, and takes a voyage to a new place. The trip is long, noisy and crowded. He’s alone and facing a strange and uncertain place, filled with mystical creatures and strange landscapes. Language barriers pose challenges with communication and finding work. He attempts to make a new life, aided by the support of new friends. This simple story about finding your place in the world holds true for anyone who has left home in search of a new life. Shaun Tan is one of my favorite illustrators and I consider this his magnum opus. Although I love "Tales from Outer Suburbia" and its take on current urban dwellings and the aliens who habitat them.

"Boom!" by Mark Haddon

Jimbo and Charlie are bored. Their families are normal, their siblings annoying, and their parents are predictable. When they overhear two of their teachers talking in a secret language, they set off to investigate the mystery. At the time, it seemed like a good idea to break into their history teacher's house. But what they find in her attic proves their teachers are really up to no good, and may be conspiring to take over the planet! Mark Haddon is the author of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." This is another clever, well constructed, who-dunnit geared for a younger audience, I'd say 3rd - 7th grade. British humor and hilarious plays on words. I laughed out loud.

"The Line" by Terri Hall

The Line is a government created boundary that separates the United States from a place known as Away. Rachel and her mom live on The Property, where her mom works as a housekeeper for Ms. Moore. No one is allowed to cross The Line, as it's meant to prevent The Others from coming into the United States. No one really knows much about The Others, supposedly they were trapped after a large-scale war, and the government wants to keep them separate. Rachel's mom has always been a skeptic of the government and encourages her daughter to think independently and do what's right and fair. But when someone or something makes contact from the other side of the Line, Rachel has to decide who's telling the truth. If you liked "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, you will love "The Line"!

"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.

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

It’s the middle of the night, and everyone in the house is sound asleep. Everyone that is, except for the man, Jack.

"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife."

Jack murders the entire family, except for the baby boy. He makes a swift escape by crawling over his crib railing. He totters down the stairs, out the front door, and down the street to the nearby graveyard.

Citizens of the graveyard hold an emergency meeting to decide what to do with the child. Two of the cemetery’s dead inhabitants, Mr. and Mrs. Owens agree to adopt the orphaned toddler. They name him Nobody Owens, or Bod, for short.

Nobody is raised by ghosts, and tutored by wise and knowledgeable local residents. He’s given special privileges, normally reserved for the deceased, including haunting, dreamwalking and becoming invisible.

But Nobody’s childhood in a graveyard has its own challenges. Especially when the man who murdered his family is still on the loose, and out to finish the job.

This is a creepy, spine-tingling tale, filled with haunted crypts and menacing ghouls.

"Color of Heaven" by Kim Dong Hwa

This is the final installment in the Color trilogy by Hwa, illustrating his mother's adolescence in rural Korea. This story resumes when Duksam, Elwa's true love, leaves the village to work on a fishing boat. Elwa patiently waits for his return, as he's promised to build her a house and marry her. Elwa and her mother are pining for their men, and taking in the simple pleasures in their daily routine. Korean symbolism, folklore and superstition are interspersed in this calm and tender story about a mother and daughter's relationship, and the men in their lives. Some sexual situations, best for older teens.