I Am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author)

protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?

This goes on the shortlist of books that not only will stay with me forever, but had a huge impact on my life. This story fell into my lap when I needed it the most, it should be required reading for humanity. The characters were completely genuine and well-developed. The story was an unbelievable balance of sweet and brutal, kind and ruthless. Zusak is an absolutely masterful storyteller. Read everything he's ever written. Your heart will be torn apart, but you'll thank him for it.

The Little White Horse

by Elizabeth Goudge

A new-fashioned story that is as wonderful as the best fairy tales.

When orphaned young Maria Merryweather arrives at Moonacre Manor, she feels as if she’s entered Paradise. Her new guardian, her uncle Sir Benjamin, is kind and funny; the Manor itself feels like home right away; and every person and animal she meets is like an old friend. But there is something incredibly sad beneath all of this beauty and comfort—a tragedy that happened years ago, shadowing Moonacre Manor and the town around it—and Maria is determined to learn about it, change it, and give her own life story a happy ending. But what can one solitary girl do?
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This is one of the few books whose movie adaptation was thoroughly enjoyable. I saw the movie before I learned it was a book first and then was able to track it down a few days later at the library. If you just want a good old-fashioned wholesome story, this is it. It was written in 1946 and has a post-war feel to it. Fun adventure with great characters and a strong female lead.

The View from Saturday

by E.L. Konigsburg

Mrs. Olinski, paralyzed in a car crash ten years ago, returns to teaching and chooses four unlikely sixth-grade Academic Bowl team, who become unlikelier champions, in more than the state competition. Julian, the strangest one on the school bus, invites Noah, red-haired Nadia, and silent Ethan, to tea.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This book stood out to me when I read it as a tween, but it meant even more to me when I reread it as an "adult" two years ago. I wish I could have been as thoughful and introspective as the characters in this book when I was their age. I loved that, at age approximately 11, these characters were able to make such deep meaningful friendships with each other, find beauty and patience in the ugly and hectic, and give hope to so many younger folks at a challenging transition--socially and developmentally--in their lives. A must for children and inner-children alike.

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This book felt like a song to me. There was music, art, reading, love, struggle, and it all tied together into a perfectly balanced song. I thoroughly enjoyed this whole series. The author is clearly extremely well-read and passes that passion to literary exploration to the reader. The characters, aside from the supernatural difficulties, actually have a very healthy teen relationship. Something I value and do not get to see too often. This series made me dread the winter just a little bit less.

Bluffton

by Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan, graphic novelist extraordinaire, presents a rollicking tribute to vaudeville, small-town dreams, and Buster Keaton as a boy.

In the summer of 1908, in Muskegon, Michigan, a visiting troupe of vaudeville performers is about the most exciting thing since baseball. They’re summering in nearby Bluffton, so Henry has a few months to ogle the elephant and the zebra, the tightrope walkers and — lo and behold — a slapstick actor his own age named Buster Keaton. The show folk say Buster is indestructible; his father throws him around as part of the act and the audience roars, while Buster never cracks a smile. Henry longs to learn to take a fall like Buster, "the human mop," but Buster just wants to play ball with Henry and his friends. With signature nostalgia, Scott O’Dell Award–winning graphic novelist Matt Phelan visualizes a bygone era with lustrous color, dynamic lines, and flawless dramatic pacing.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Looking after children is really difficult, but it's books like this that make keeping a child entertained both easy and a pleasure. Especially since it is great for the reader as well. The illustrations are stunning and the story has a great combo of themes including history, friendship, childhood summer magic, the circus, and young love.

A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth.

Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I read this book years ago, but I recently saw the first three of four out on the sidewalk for anyone to take. I quickly scooped them up and shoved them into by dear boyfriend's loving--paper-cut-free!--arms saying "just read 'em!" Few books emphasize so perfectly the power of words and the power we gain from using the right ones at the right times. A tale of magic, mystery, mistakes, development, and friendship, this is a great first story in a captivating series.

The Gates (Samuel Johnson vs. the Devil #1)

by John Connolly

Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund, Boswell, are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Halloween which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Road. The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with the underworld, but when they unknowingly call forth Satan himself, they create a gap in the universe. A gap in which a pair of enormous gates is visible. The gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out...

Can one small boy defeat evil? Can he harness the power of science, faith, and love to save the world as we know it?
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I usually have no stomach for anything I even think might be scary, but this book--and it's pair--were incredible. There's a great balance of science and fantasy, funny and scary. Samuel is a wonderfully well-rounded character and the story is very well-developed too. It was also refreshing to see that while there is that child-adult divide that's often present in fantastical literature, there were also times when children and their parents worked together which is pretty rare to see in the genre.

Witch Week (Chrestomanci #3)

by Diana Wynne Jones

SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH.

When the note, written in ordinary blue ballpoint, appears between two of the homework books Mr Crossley is marking, he is very upset. For this is Larwood House, a school for witch-orphans, where witchcraft is utterly forbidden. And yet, suddenly magic is breaking out all over the place - like measles!

The last thing anybody needs is a visit from the Divisional Inquisitor. If only Chrestomanci could come and sort out all the trouble!
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I consumed this story because it was written by Dianna Wynne Jones, but I hadn't realized at the time that it was part of a series. It felt like a book that worked as a stand-alone too. The story was fun and quirky and wonderfully witty.

The Girl with All the Gifts

by M.R. Carey

NOT EVERY GIFT IS A BLESSING

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class.

When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite. But they don't laugh.

Melanie is a very special girl.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Normally anything that even hints of scary I don't give a chance, but this book hooked me from the first line and made me read all of it... just not before bed. Seriously.
It was one of the most thrilling reads of the summer. A wonderful exploration of humanity and what it means to be human. There are no easy answers. I loved this book.

Leviathan (Leviathan #1)

by Scott Westerfeld, Keith Thompson (Illustrator)

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

The start of an exciting, thrilling adventure. I loved this whole series. The adventure was captivating and the illustrations were incredibly beautiful. The book touched on really important themes for youths: gender, equality, bravery, friendship, and many more. It's also a work of historical fiction, so anyone fascinated by the World War I era will enjoy this clever new spin on it.

House of Many Ways (Howl's Moving Castle #3)

by Diana Wynne Jones

A chaotically magical sequel to Howl's Moving Castle. Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy, but Great Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places - the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, to name but a few. By opening that door, Charmain is now also looking after an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard and a box of the king's most treasured documents, as well as irritating a clan of small blue creatures. Caught up in an intense royal search, she encounters an intimidating sorceress named Sophie. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind?
(retrieved from goodreads.com)

I accidentally read this series out of order, but it was still great and very understandable--in spite of my imposed order. Charmain was plucky and courageous and a great character. The story, while complex, was not difficult to follow. And the setting, both at Uncle William's house and in the royal palace, were easy to imagine, though I had to come to terms with their fictitious nature. A shame.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland #1)

by Catherynne M. Valente (Goodreads Author), Ana Juan (Illustrator)

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I'd actually stumbled across this book by accident after I heard the author talk at my local bookstore. She was equally down to Earth, bright, charming, and extremely intelligent. This series--the only one I've read of hers so far--reflects that perfectly. She's not afraid to use big words to challenge younger readers to broaden their vocabulary and it's also enjoyable to "adults" who may need a refresher too. A very fun and thrilling story.

Nation

by Terry Pratchett

Alone on a desert island — everything and everyone he knows and loves has been washed away in a storm — Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He’s completely alone — or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird, and gives him a stick that can make fire.
Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She’s certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, that all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship’s parrot, until other survivors arrive to take refuge on the island. Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things (including how to milk a pig, and why spitting in beer is a good thing), and start to forge a new nation.

Encompassing themes of death and nationhood, Terry Pratchett’s new novel is, as can be expected, extremely funny, witty and wise. Mau’s ancestors have something to teach us all. Mau just wishes they would shut up about it and let him get on with saving everyone’s lives!
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I loved this book--obviously. I had so much fun reading it and finding the dramatized version of it on BBC Radio 4 Extra. Mau and Daphne are such great characters and it was great to see them grow and develop because of--and in spite of--quite dire circumstances. Seriously great book.

Wonder (Wonder #1)

by R. J. Palacio

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

What I loved most about this book, aside from everything, was the wonderful sense of perspective the author gave us. It wasn't just Auggie's story, but the story of his sister, her boyfriend, some of his classmates, etc. Even a character that never comes around to accepting Auggie's difference is treated with compassion. I would recommend this book to any person of any age.

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher (Goodreads Author)

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I haven't even finished this book, I'm about halfway through, and I needed to share it.

This book is extremely powerful and I'm completely consumed by it. Young adults and "regular" adults alike could learn a thing or two--or ten--from the lessons the main character, Hannah, is trying to communicate.
I'm completely hooked and will definitely spend the rest of my day diving into this captivating read.

I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld #38)

by Terry Pratchett

It starts with whispers.
Then someone picks up a stone.
Finally, the fires begin.
When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer. . . .
Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that aren't sparkly, aren't fun, don't involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy.

But someone or something is igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its root before it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls with her.

Chilling drama combines with laughout-loud humor and searing insight as beloved and bestselling author Terry Pratchett tells the high-stakes story of a young witch who stands in the gap between good and evil.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I was lucky enough to have this book with me when I was called for jury duty. Let me tell you, there is nothing better, when stuck in a room for 10 hours with a bunch of other disgruntled New Yorkers, than being kept company by Terry Pratchett. This book was funny, intense, extremely intelligent, and exactly what I needed. Tiffany is easily one of my favorite [fictional] people ever.

The Thief Lord

by Cornelia Funke

Welcome to the magical underworld of Venice, Italy. Here, hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets....

After escaping from their cruel aunt and uncle, orphans Prosper and Bo meet a mysterious boy who calls himself the "Thief Lord." Clever and charming, the Thief Lord leads a band of street children who enjoy making mischief. But the Thief Lord also has a dark secret. And suddenly Proper and Bo find themselves on a fantastical journey to a forgotten place. What they discover there will change the course of their destiny.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This was an excellent thriller and it was a delight to get sucked into. The story was compelling, the characters were easy to relate to, and the plot was both comfortably familiar but tense unexpected twists and turns. Adults and youth alike will enjoy this story.

Dead End in Norvelt (Norvelt #1)

by Jack Gantos

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets.

But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a feisty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his Utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I read this for school actually. It was way more fun than I had thought it would be--being skeptical of anything assigned to me. It is a wonderfully--but not overwhelmingly--complex story with something for everyone.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick

Half sketches create a story in pictures too, relevant history. Real last-century French pioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès collected mechanical robot-like automata, and, impoverished, worked at a toy booth in a Paris railway station. Here, orphan Hugo fixes his late father's automata, and meets Méliès through his god-daughter Isabelle.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Is it a graphic novel? Is it a "traditional" novel? Yes! It's both! This was a marvelously told story that led the reader on many unexpected and exciting twists and turns. The illustrations pull you into Paris and the story is one that everyone can relate to.

The film adaptation was surprisingly good as well.

Skellig

by David Almond

Unhappy about his baby sister's illness and the chaos of moving into a dilapidated old house, Michael retreats to the garage and finds a mysterious stranger who is something like a bird and something like an angel...
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

What a deeply moving book. It is crammed full of many important themes without being overwhelming: the fear of loss, of being different, starting over. Ideas we can all relate to, regardless of age. This was also one of the few time I thought the movie adaptation was actually quite good. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age. I've always thought that stories aimed at a specific age group (especially younger ones) can still be enjoyed by anyone, this is yet another perfect example of that.