The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

-Amazon product description.

Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Super smart, overweight teen Cat decides to be the test subject for an experiment of her creation in one of her AP science classes. The experiment? Go 207 days living like the first humans (or homo erectus) used to live. This means giving up all technology (emergency items such as cell phone, and basic hygiene routines like showers not included), and eating a diet that consists of all natural foods.

However, when Cat begins to lose weight, suddenly she goes from nerdy tomboy, to ultra hottie.

I loved this book so much I read it in a day. It's a very relatable, funny, and fast paced book. I highly recommend this one.

-Sam.

Invisible i: Book one of The Amanda Project by Melissa Kantor

Where is Amanda Valentino? This is a question high school students Callie, Hal, and Nia have to ask themselves after being questioned by their vice principal on Amanda's whereabouts. Each student had been a best friend to Amanda... but none of them knew about each other until she disappeared. Through hidden clues left by Amanda, the three teens have to embark on a journey to not only discover where she is, but ultimately discover WHO exactly is Amanda Valentino?

It took me a few chapters to fully get into this book, but once I did I was completely gone. Being as this book is only the first in a series of eight yet to come, there is only so much information and plot twists they can provide, but I must say it was enough! I loved this book and am so excited it's the start to a new series I can spend countless hours reading.

-Sam.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Each year the Capitol, head of the nation of Panem (formerly known as North America), forces each of its twelve districts to send one boy and girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete in the Hunger Games. Designed to horrify the districts into submission, the Games are a televised gladiatorial fight. Contestants must kill or be killed, but the winner is awarded fame, wealth, and honor for their district. When Katness Everdeen's twelve-year-old sister is chosen as District 12's tribute, Katniss steps forward to take her place.
I would recommend The Hunger Games to anyone who enjoys dystopian stories or fantasy. The author avoids the worst cliches of young adult/teen fiction (like overwrought drama) and modern science fiction (such as environmental/humanitarian messages that overwhelm the plot). Most characters are well-thought-out, especially Katness; the author managed to show several different aspects of her character, and each felt genuine. However, the book's strength also accents its worst flaw: some of the most important characters seemed one-dimensional. Without spoiling the plot, I found the most important secondary character unsympathetic, almost boring, at a time when readers should care most about him/her. All in all, though, The Hunger Games is a pretty compelling book; I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

April

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Lucius and Aurora are new students at their high school. They were both uprooted from their hometowns through very different circumstances. For Lucius, it was an explosion that he had caused which resulted in him getting his hands amputated, leaving him with metal hooks for prosthesis (because they were the cheapest option). For seemingly perfect Aurora, her mother had just died of cancer and together her and her father wanted to start fresh.

Although as different as can be, one glance at each other on the bus the first day of school sparks a chemistry between the two teens. Aptly deemed a "modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast", this story had me hooked from the first page (no pun intended).

-Sam