Such A Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess

With her father imprisoned, 15-year-old Meredith thinks she could live out her high-school days safely, but when he is released early for good behavior, her security is shattered.

A popular youth baseball coach, her father has abused Mer as well as other boys and girls. With strict orders that he not be left alone with his daughter, he is returned to the condo complex where she and her mother live. In contrast to Mer's terror, her mother is giddy with delight at his return, and together the reunited couple plans to conceive another child. Yet in the shadows and stillness, Mer's nightmare begins anew.

This is a gritty, terrifying novel about a father's abuse of power and trust, and the way two different teens, Meredith and her paraplegic friend, Andy, deal with that reality. Although not explicit, the novel is honest in its telling. Admittedly sensational, Wiess' story is a page-turner that ultimately sends a startling message of empowerment that, while improbable, is extremely satisfying.

-Booklist review

Just like the book Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, some discretion is advised with this pick. While, like the review above stated, the book never gets too graphic, it still explores a very serious subject matter. It's quite a short read, and I was able to finish it in just a couple days.

-Sam

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

All who have read Eclipse know about the character Bree. A blood-craving newborn created by Victoria, Bree enters the fight at the conclusion to Eclipse and immediately surrenders. The Cullens, mainly Carlisle and Esme, see this as a sign that Bree could potentially change her ways and become adopted into their clan. The Volturi, however, have a different plan for the young vamp.

In this novella you're introduced to Bree and her clan of newborns when she is only a few months old into her vampire life. This book shows a different side to the vampire culture of the Twilight Saga. Ravenous and blood-thirsty, the newborns go about terrorizing Seattle.

If you like this series, but were disappointed with the lack of "vampires acting like vampires", I definitely recommend this book!

-Sam

Passing Strange by Daniel Waters

Karen DeSonne is used to pretending to be something she’s not. All her life, she’s passed as a normal all-American teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And now that Karen’s dead, she’s still passing – this time, as alive.

Meanwhile, Karen’s dead friends have been fingered in a high-profile murder, causing a new round of anti-zombie regulations that have forced nearly all of Oakvale’s undead into hiding. Karen soon learns that the “murder” was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburg and his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence to expose the fraud and prove her friends’ innocence means doing the unthinkable: betraying her love by becoming Pete’s girlfriend. Karen’s only hope is that the enemy never realizes who she really is – because the consequences would be even worse than death.

-Amazon product description

This third installment of the Generation Dead series is probably my favorite thus far. It brought forth a whole different scenario in the zombie world, and showed many different sides of characters I never thought could change their ways. While this series doesn't have to be read in order, I definitely recommend all of them.

-Sam

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser

Str-S-d:
I’ll begin with Lucy. She is definitely first on the list. You can’t believe how it feels to be in the cafeteria and turn around and there she is staring at me like I’m some disgusting bug or vermin. Does she really think I WANT to be this way? I hate you, Lucy. I really hate you. You are my #1 pick. I wish you were dead.

The day after anonymous blogger Str-S-d wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucy’s friend and the last person to see her the night she disappeared.

As days pass with no sign of the missing girl, even the attention of Tyler, an attractive new student, is not enough to distract Madison from her growing sense of foreboding. When two more popular students disappear after their names are mentioned on Str-S-d’s blog, the residents of Soundview panic.

Meanwhile, Madison receives anonymous notes warning that she could be next. Desperate to solve the mystery before anyone else disappears, Madison turns to Tyler, but can she trust him when it becomes clear that he knows more than he’s sharing?

The clock is ticking. Madison must uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances . . . before her name appears in Str-S-d’s blog.

-Amazon product description

Without giving anything away-- I loved this book. It was fast paced and at some points I was genuinely scared for the characters. Wish You Were Dead is like the perfect blend of Law & Order: SVU meets Silence of the Lambs meets I Know What You Did Last Summer (a comparison made on the book jacket I definitely agree with). Supposedly this is the first installment of a "thrill-ology" by Todd Strasser, but I'm not sure as to whether the next couple books will be a continuation of this one, or two separate storylines. Either way, this book has a great storyline and is a pretty good mystery novel.

-Sam

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Regina Afton seemingly has it all. Her best friend is Anna, the head of the most popular clique in school; The Fearsome Fivesome, she has a steady boyfriend named Josh, and gets invited to the best parties. However, toward the end of her senior year, Regina attends a party that changes everything.

After entrusting her secret to someone she should not have, Regina's friends begin to give her the "freeze-out". This freeze-out isn't just a simple 'we're not friends anymore' type... this kind does damage. Constantly bullied and ridiculed, Regina longs for any type of friendship just so she doesn't have to feel so alone.

Enter Michael Hayden. Having lost his mother in a terrible freak accident the year before, and having been the subject of countless cruel rumors and pranks by Regina and her friends, he is reluctant to even speak to Regina. Like everyone else, he absolutely hates her. Can Regina find a way to win over Michael's friendship? Or is she just destined to spend the rest of senior year in pain... or possibly just end it all?

Some Girls Are is a novel that basically takes the premise of Mean Girls and kicks it into overdrive. It is very intense, sad, and sickening. The worst part, however, is that no matter how the scenarios are exaggerated, it is still rings true. Every school has that one clique that no one likes, but everyone has to pretend to worship for fear of retaliation. A fantastic book that will leave the reader with a sense of "Do Something". To anyone reading this review, if you or someone you know is being bullied, please please please seek help. No one has the right to treat anyone like garbage or make them feel useless.

-Sam