THE UGLIES SERIES by SCOTT WESTERFELD: Although the author had originally planned for this series to be a trilogy, there is a total of 4 books. (Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras. There is also a bonus book called Bogus To Bubbly, which is an insiders guide to the World of Uglies.) The series has a central theme of how our society is based on appearances.The first three books follow the life of one daring little Ugly named Tally Youngblood as she changes into a Pretty and then a Special. (An Ugly is an ugly person, a Pretty is a pretty person, and a Special is a Pretty with superhuman powers and strength that appearance-wise are sculpted and defined.) It takes place in a time much more advanced than today, but although it seems perfect, it's not. With the help of a new friend, Shay, Tally begins to see the truth about her society and what it really means to be Pretty. Tally must choose whether to become Pretty like she has promised her best friend, Peris, or seeing the truth with Shay and opposing the city and the Pretty Operation. This story is an adventurous tale that any teen would easily be engaged in.
SHADE'S CHILDREN by GARTH NIX: "Fifteen years ago, every human being over the age of fourteen vanished off the face of the planet. Children are now raised in Dorms, then carted off on their fourteenth birthday to be surgically transformed into the faceless machines that fight territorial battles for the mysterious Overlords. Some children have begun to develop strange talents, however. Those talents let a few escape the Dorms to live ferally until they are recaptured or killed. A very few are recruited by Shade, a computer-generated simulation of an adult, whose sole obsession is the destruction of the Overlords -- until a better obsession comes along. Shade sends his children out in patrols to gather supplies and information about the Overlords. One of these patrols rescues Gold-eye, an escaped child whose precognition has let him barely elude the Overlords' creatures. His new friends are the telekinetic Ninde, the hulking Drum, and Ella, who can conjure small items, and who, at eighteen, is probably the oldest human being alive." - Christina Schulman
This story is very grim and depressing, nothing at all like the Abhorsen trilogy that Nix has also written. (I haven't read those yet, but I've heard they're amazing, so if you need some more books, check the series out: Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen.) If you like action and adventure this is a good book to read. It's more suited towards boys because it is action-packed but girls will enjoy the story's theme and the subtle romance towards the end of the book.
THE TWILIGHT SERIES by STEPHENIE MEYER: If you haven't read this series, you must live under a rock or are just completely against the idea of being like everyone else and reading this book. I was a late reader of the series, having just begun reading them in December, 2008. I was a skeptic of the series, but found that it is rather good. The story follows Bella Swan, a klutzy girl who is completely naive, as she moves to Forks, Washington. A.k.a. the rainiest place on the planet. The story is incredibly boring until Bella meets Edward Cullen, a boy with a dark secret. (Potential Spoiler Alert: You probably already know this because like, duh, it's everywhere, but Edward is a vampire.) Bella and Edward fall in love despite the fact that Edward wants something from Bella, and it's not just to get into her pants. Meyer uses unbelievably simplistic writing, which I thought made the book rather dull, but the story is so creative and intricately put together that the plot is hard to resist; The author author thought of every little detail when writing this book, except for one. What does Edward do when Bella has her period?!
THE MAXIMUM RIDE SERIES by JAMES PATTERSON: This is an amazing, action-packed series from one of the greatest writers like...ever. The story is about a girl who has named herself Maximum Ride, or just Max. Max is an outlaw from a society that can't know about her; She is not all human. When Max was born she and her 'brothers' and 'sisters' had their genes infused with those of an avian. Now Max and her siblings are 98% human, and 2% bird. Heck, they even have wings! Yet when they're caretaker disappears Max must protect her family from the guys in the white coats without letting the world in on their secret.
ALL OF THE BOOKS WRITTEN BY STEPHEN KING: This guy is one of the best suspense/horror novelists in history. There's no way you can not read his books. They're thrilling, and at the same time witty.
PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS SERIES by RICK RIORDAN: These books are based on Greek mythology, so if you like that stuff at all you'll love these books. 'You don't need to be a child or have a child to share these books with. I'm a great lover of really well written, highly entertaining stories, no matter what age they're aimed at, and this series is one of my favorites.' - Dahti Blanchard. I've read all of the books, and I have to say they're amazing. They're interesting, yet easy to read. A perfect series for any 8-14 year olds.
THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by NORTON JUSTER: This book is weird. That's the first thing I thought when I read it. The book takes place in another funky world, with quirky characters and peculiar settings.It may not be your normal cookie-cutter book, but it's interesting and amusing. Norton Juster has a writing style similar to Dahl, which makes his fantasy stories timelessly enjoyable.
CRANK, BURNED, GLASS, IMPULSE, IDENTICAL, TRICKS by ELLEN HOPKINS: These books may be a bit sketchy for readers under 13. Pretty much anything you can think of that's bad and inappropriate for children is in them: Drugs, sex, suicide, etc. The books all have good central values though and, if taken the right way, teach teens the dangers of drugs and sex.
CRANK and GLASS- These two correlate; You have to read them together. "A book that is unbelieveably realistic. By far the first novel that I felt a part of, you never stop learning throughout the book. Please read.
-Sara Jean, Cheney, Washington". BURNED- Burned, written by Ellen Hopkins is a worth the read novel full of excitement, tragedy and surprise. Written in verse, every page is set up creatively. Hopkins verse style of novel writing is a very exciting new way of reading and writing.
IMPULSE- Three teens are locked up in a psychiatric facility after their suicide attempts. They each have a dark past filled with abuse, but slowly they begin to open up to one another and form tight bonds. Of course, as with all of Hopkins book, there is a tragic ending.
IDENTICAL- Of all the books written by Ellen Hopkins, this was my least favorite. It was hard to understand, and the twist at the end really screwed me up. I didn't quite like it as it was a bit too 'out there' for my tastes and I couldn't comprehend the plot. But, heck, she's a good writer so it's not a horrible book.
TRICKS- This is the best, and nastiest book of all of them. Parents may want to approve the book by reading some reviews before they have their kids read it. It involves sex, drugs, rape, sex with members of the same sex, prostitution, and many other things. However, the book is extremely well-written and I liked it quite a bit. Parents need to know that this book features graphic depictions of sex. The teens in this book have sex with men and women, trade sex for money and drugs, and are forced to make pornographic movies, have threesomes, etc. One character is raped in two different instances when her mother sells her to strangers. There is harsh language, drug use, and violence throughout. -Kate Pavo
For more information on what parents need to know, go on
Here are some more books that I don't want to write reviews and synopsizes for, but they are still all very good books. Most have been rated as popular books for teens.
(Note: The ones in capital letters are my favorites.):
THE GIVER by LOIS LOWRY
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Holes by Louis Sachar
THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. HINTON
A WRINKLE IN TIME by MADELINE L'ENGLE
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
THE CITY OF EMBER SERIES by JEANNE DUPRAU
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashares
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
THE THIEF LORD by CORNELIA FUNKE
Looking For Alaska by John Green
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by SARAH DESSEN
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by NANCY FARMER (This is pretty much my favorite book of all time. I borrowed the book on tape version from the library and listened to it while I drew during the summer. It's an amazing tale, and I couldn't get enough of it. I was so captivated by the main character and the plot that I spent an entire day listening to it. I then proceeded to get the book and read it again, it was just that good.)
THE EAR, THE EYE, AND THE ARM by NANCY FARMER
THE RAINBOW BOYS SERIES by ALEX SANCHEZ (FYI these books are about gay boys, if you didn't get the hint from the title. They get a bit 'awkward' in some scenes.)
THE AMONG THE HIDDEN SERIES by MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX
KILLING MR. GRIFFIN by LOIS DUNCAN
DOWN A DARK HALL by LOIS DUNCAN
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER by LOIS DUNCAN
Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX by KATE DICAMILLO
THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES by KRISTIN AND P.C. KAST
FEED by M.T. ANDERSON
I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy by Ally Carter
Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter
Only The Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
LOCK AND KEY by SARAH DESSEN
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by SUSAN BETH PFEFFER
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID SERIES by JEFF KINNEY
Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
GONE by MICHAEL GRANT
HUNGER by MICHAEL GRANT
