Afer Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

Everyone wants to live happily ever after, but what happens when you are diagnosed with cancer and survive? This is the story of Jeffrey and what happens to him After Ever After. He really needs to talk about things with his older brother Steven, but he's left the country to study drums in Africa. Jeffrey really needs to help his best friend Tad, but he's missed a lot of school recently. And he really needs to pass the statewide test so he can graduate from the 8th grade, but first he has to learn how to stop surviving and start living again.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia and Cassie are the best of friends. They do everything together, including making a bet to see who can be the skinniest. After an argument causes them to stop speaking for several months, the bet isn't over. In fact, Cassie takes the bet too far. Lia is left cold and alone to remember how Cassie tried to reach out to her. Could Lia have helped her? Can Lia help herself? This is a powerful book with an all too believable cast of characters that will leave readers rooting for Lia and her recovery.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

17-year-old Terra was born with a large birthmark on the side of her face, also known as a port-wine stain. While enduring stares from strangers and deflecting cruel remarks from her father her entire life, she has become an accomplished artist. But it's a chance encounter with a goth boy that completely changes the course of her life, making her see herself for the first time as who she really is. This is a well-written book about the meaning of friendship, being true to yourself, and standing up for your beliefs.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Is time travel possible? Not if you're 12-year-old Miranda living in New York City in the late 1970's. When she discovers the first of three notes left for her by a mysterious stranger, she has to decide whether to believe everything she sees or follow her intuition and protect those closest to her. Can she save her best friend's life before he is quickly taken from her or will he too leave before it's time?

Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor

Sixteen-year-old Kate has big plans for her summer... until her mom announces the two of them are leaving their native Utah and traveling to Cape Cod for the summer! Kate is convinced it's going to be the worst summer of her life, but then she meets cute Adam at the local library of all places. Will she transform herself and finally be considered "girlfriend material" or will she forever be the "funny sidekick"?

Bull Rider by Suzanne Morgan Williams

15-year-old Cam O'Mara comes from a family of championship bull riders, but he has absolutely no interest in the family pasttime. Instead, he gets his adrenaline rush from skateboarding with his best friend, Mike. But when his big brother, Ben, is almost killed in Iraq and is left fighting for his life, Cam decides the only way to get Ben to start living again is to show him anything is possible. He starts riding bulls to get closer to his brother and eventually signs up to ride the ugliest, meanest bull in the state. With $15,000 at stake, not to mention the lives of two brothers, will this bull bring the family together again or will tragedy continue to strike the O'Mara family?

Check out Ms. Williams web site.