Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two
By Bruchac, Joseph
Bruchac brings to life for young adults the stories of some of the unsung heroes of World War II--the young Navajo men who were a crucial part of the American effort in sending and receiving messages that used their native language.

Ask Me No Questions
By Budhos, Marina
The author of "Remix: Conversations with Immigrant Teenagers" pens a moving story about two teenage sisters, originally from Bangladesh, whose family lives illegally in New York City. After 9/11, immigration regulations change, forcing the family to seek asylum.

The City of Ember
By DuPrau, Jeanne
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she's sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever!

Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini
By Fleischman, Sid
In this passionate biography, the Newbery Medal-winning author of "The Whipping Boy" turns his eye to the greatest magician of them all: Harry Houdini. Includes an index, Author's Note, and bibliography. Photos.

Samurai Shortstop
By Gratz, Alan
At its heart a novel about a boy who loves baseball, this suspenseful tale is about a boy who must choose between two ways of life--but finds a way to bridge them.

Invisible
By Hautman, Pete
In this chilling look inside the mind of a teenage loner, Hautman, crafts a compelling new novel. As Doug Hanson tries to keep his long-buried secrets hidden, the inner world he has carefully constructed threatens to crumble.

The Green Glass Sea
By Klages, Ellen
In this remarkable debut novel, 11-year-old Dewey Kerrigan is traveling west on a train to live with her scientist father, but no one will tell her exactly where he is. It is 1943 and her destination is Alamos, New Mexico, where scientists are working on the Manhattan Project.

Hattie Big Sky
By Larson, Kirby
Alone in the world, teenaged Hattie is driven to "prove up" on her uncle's homesteading claim in Montana. Despite everything, Hattie's determined to stay until a tragedy causes her to discover the true meaning of home.

 Dairy Queen
By Murdock, Catherine Gilbert
Welcome to the summer that 15-year-old D.J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk--and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say. She realizes when people don't talk, much remains unsaid, like why her best friend, Amber, isn't so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth.

 
The Crossing
By Paulsen, Gary
On one side of the border is Manny Bustos, an orphan scrounging on the streets of Juarez. On the other side is Vietnam vet Robert Locke, trying to forget the war in a bottle of whiskey. When Manny decides to slip into America, the two meet--and discover endless new possibilities.

 Criss Cross
By Perkins, Lynne Rae
While wishing for something good to happen to her, Debbie's story criss crosses with those of her friends in this remarkable new book by the author of acclaimed, award-winning "All Alone in the Universe."

 
Peak
By Smith, Roland
The emotional, tension-filled story of a 14-year-old boy's attempt to be the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest is an action-packed adventure about friendship, sacrifice, family and the drive to take on Everest, despite the incredible risk.

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know
By Sones, Sonya
My name is Robin. This book is about me. It tells the story of what happens when after almost 15 pathetic years of loserdom, the girl of my dreams finally falls for me. That seems like it would be a good thing, right? Only it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that Because I'm not gonna lie to you -- there are naked women involved. Four of them, to be exact. Though not in the way you might think. Don't get me wrong -- my girlfriend's amazing. But the way things have been going lately, I'm starting to believe that the only thing worse than not getting what you want, is getting it.

Runaways
By Vaughan, Brian K.

So B. It
By Weeks, Sarah
Living with her mentally disabled mother who only knows just over twenty words, young Heidi has learned to live in her special world until a new word is suddenly used and repeated by her mother; causing Heidi to think it might be a key to a secret past about which she knows so little.

Uglies
By Westerfeld, Scott
In Tally's world, a 16th birthday brings an operation, transforming one from a repellent Ugly to an attractive Pretty. Turning Pretty is all Tally has ever wanted. Her friend Shay would rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally must make a terrible choice.

Trouble
By Gary D. Schmidt
Fourteen-year-old Henry, wishing to honor his brother Franklin's dying wish, sets out to hike Maine's Mount Katahdin with his best friend and dog. But fate adds another companion--the Cambodian refugee accused of fatally injuring Franklin--and reveals troubles that predate the accident.

The Book Thief
By Zusak, Markus
Set during World War II in Germany, Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich, scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Sofi Mendoza’s guide to getting lost in Mexico
By Malin Alegria
When Southern California high school senior Sofi Mendoza lies to her parents and crosses the border for a weekend party, she has no idea that she will get stuck in a Mexican village with family she has never met before, unable to return to the United States and the easy life she knew.