"Alchemy and Meggy Swan" by Karen Cushman

Karen Cushman has done it again! The year is 1573 and Meggy Swan is sent to live with her father in London. He turns out to be a cruel and mean man, ignoring his daughter's arrival. He works as an alchemist, which is the science of turning metal into gold. Poor Meggy struggles with her legs, which have been disabled since birth and make walking a challenge. She endures taunting and teasing from the neighbors and school-children about her crutches and walking limp. Things go from bad to worse. Her father forgets to feed her, and Meggy is forced to give up her pet goose, as her dad doesn't think it's a suitable pet. Then Meggy discovers the unthinkable, her father is up to no good, and it's up to Meggy to make some tough choices. This is a wonderful historical fiction for 5th-8th grade, set in Elizabethan London. Wonderful language and an feisty and independent female lead.

"Glimpse" by Carol Lynch Williams

Ellen Hopkins has new competition for novels in verse. Sisters Hope and Lizzie have a very close, loving friendship. But when Lizzie tries to commit suicide, Hope struggles to understand why. Lizzie is sent to a mental hospital for observation. Their mother isn't the best role model and their father died in a car accident years ago. The secrets revealed at the end are powerful and dark.

"Nothing" by Janne Teller

A fellow librarian told me to read this book, and librarians do give the best recommendations. I'm only a little biased.

Pierre Anthon is convinced that "Nothing matters." "From the moment you are born, you start to die."

Pierre is so confident in his beliefs; he leaves school and spends his days sitting in a tree, taunting his fellow classmates. He throws plums, and yells at everyone that there is nothing special about their lives, the universe or anything.

His classmates are determined to prove him wrong. They try to argue with him, but are unsuccessful. Throwing rocks at him doesn’t help him shut up either. So, they decide to create a pile of meaningful objects to prove to Pierre that life does indeed stand for something.

The students take turns adding their personal objects to the pile: books, a fishing pole, a pair of sandals….each contribution becomes more extreme and intense to prove their point, and the end result is both morbid and frightening.

What constitutes meaning? Do material objects hold importance? How do you determine what has value?

This is a wonderful, but chilling, look at ourselves, and how we attach significance to our lives.

This book is translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken.

"Bleeding Violet" by Dia Reeves

This book is whack. It’s really messed up. If you are looking for clean and uplifting, do not go anywhere near this book. But it’s also amazing… how did the author get these ideas into words?

Hanna is bi-polar and has not been taking her medication. She is prone to vivid hallucinations. Sometimes she even has conversations with her dead father.

Fed up living with her aunt, she bludgeons her on the head with a rolling pin, leaving her to die. Hannah then hitchhikes to Portero, where her biological mom is living. Hannah is ready to reconnect, but they haven’t seen each other in years, and they do not have a healthy relationship. It’s hateful, combative and destructive.

And that’s just the beginning chapters…

Hannah starts over in a new school where her hallucinations take on a new level. This town is not welcoming to visitors. Something (or someone) is living in the glass windows, the neighborhood is filled with mystical portals, and there is an abundance of body parts and blood everywhere. But is she really seeing things, or has everyone gone mad? And her mom is not acting like her normal, spiteful self. Something evil is contaminating their house.

This book is not for the faint of heart. Especially if you’re squeamish with blood, pus, and unidentifiable alien fluids. It’s raw, vulgar, and disturbing. But, there is a romantic vein when Hannah finds love and lust with her new boyfriend, Wyatt. He’s supposedly one of the “good guys.” But when people are possessed, demons are in the shadows, and charms work their magic, it’s hard to know who to trust. Luckily, Hannah excels at making irrational decisions. And, she has a horrific violent streak that she’s not afraid to use. The town of Portero needs to watch its back.

This book is geared towards teens. I would recommend for older teens, LOTS of violence, drugs and sex. Also good for adults!

"Twilight : The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1" by Stephenie Meyer

For those who are looking for more "Twilight," here you go! This is the first volume in a new graphic novel series by Stephenie Meyer. Illustrated by Young Kim

"The Carrie Diaries" by Candace Bushnell

How did Carrie Bradshaw end up a sex columnist in New York City? For all those Sex and the City fans, this is the story of Carrie as a high school senior, written for a teen audience. She is navigating her way through the high school social scene, dodging clique drama, and developing her independent, fiesty spirit. Carrie is already practicing the art of juggling boyfriends -- Sebastian, the gorgeous bad boy, and George, the intellectual, older man. Struggling with what to do with her life after college, she flounders between pursuing science and is also drawn to creative writing. There is a healthy dose of fashion and style, and of course sex. But more conversation about, than actual deeds, Carrie is still a virgin. Lots of drinking. Lots. Good for older teens.

"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.