The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean (Illustrator)

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . .

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Imagine the Jungle Book, but in a graveyard. I loved this book and especially loved that my commute took me passed a graveyard twice a week while I was reading it. I definitely kept an eye out, but maybe it was just the sun glinting off of something shiny that I saw...

Incredible story accompanied by fantastic illustrations. Bod is exactly the brave sparky kid I like to aspire to be these days. It's never too late.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Persepolis #1-2)

by Marjane Satrapi, Mattias Ripa (Translator)

A New York Times Notable Book

A Time Magazine “Best Comix of the Year”

Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Because it's almost hard to believe how much one person can survive, I had a hard time at first remembering that this was a work of non-fiction. Wise, funny, and heartbreaking sum this story up perfectly. I loved it (and the second volume) and look forward to exploring more work by Satrapi.

Especially because of how fraught these times are with tension in the Middle East, it's important to remember that there is no single side that is good or bad. It's only the people doing the killing and spreading of hate that are worthy of our contempt. Everyone caught in the middle should receive our sympathy and admiration, especially since most of us have not had to deal with such extremism first-hand.

Fire and Hemlock

by Diana Wynne Jones, Garth Nix (introduction)

Polly has two sets of memories...

One is normal: school, home, friends. The other, stranger memories begin nine years ago, when she was ten and gate-crashed an odd funeral in the mansion near her grandmother's house. Polly's just beginning to recall the sometimes marvelous, sometimes frightening adventures she embarked on with Tom Lynn after that. And then she did something terrible, and everything changed.

But what did she do? Why can't she remember? Polly must uncover the secret, or her true love -- and perhaps Polly herself -- will be lost.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Easily one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors. This was a great modern take on the old Scottish ballad Tam Lin. Instead of a book from two different perspectives, this is a book where a character has two sets of memories. It's important to keep them straight. Otherwise you can just sit back (or hover on the edge of your seat like I did) and enjoy the ride. Wonderful wonderful tale.

Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales #1)

by Holly Black

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Back to fantastical realms. Like the title says, this is a modern take on old fairy tales. It's a great combination of fairy, faerie, and faery elements from many different places in a modern setting. A great combination of fun and dark.

Wonderstruck

by Brian Selznick

Ben and Rose secretly wish for better lives. Ben longs for his unknown father. Rose scrapbooks a famous silent actress. When Ben finds clues and Rose reads enticing news, the children independently run to New York for what they are missing. Ben's story in words, Rose's in pictures, come together in deafness.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

The art in this book is breathtaking. The story is captivating. I really enjoyed how strong the characters were. Because of, or in spite of, their young ages. I will try not to do this too much, but I'm going with: just read it! I loved it and now that I'm looking at the cover art, I know I have to read it again.

Graceling (Graceling Realm #1)

by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

The journey Katsa follows is wild. It was wonderful to accompany her on the physical journey, but also her character's journey of emotional development as well. She works damn hard to live the life she doesn't know she deserves and tries to rise above the stereotypes people with her abilities face. She's a very strong and brave character and is a great role model for young women who may not always feel allowed to be powerful too. 

The other two books in the series are a must as well: Fire and Bitterblue. Both are available at most bookstores and libraries. You won't have to wait on the edge of your seat like I did for the next one to come out.

On the Jellicoe Road

by Melina Marchetta

I'm dreaming of the boy in the tree. I tell him stories. About the Jellicoe School and the Townies and the Cadets from a school in Sydney. I tell him about the war between us for territory. And I tell him about Hannah, who lives in the unfinished house by the river. Hannah, who is too young to be hiding away from the world. Hannah, who found me on the Jellicoe Road six years ago.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

The most important thing to remember when starting this book is that it is written from two perspectives and two different times. This was such a powerful story. Heartbreaking, tense, and powerful. It is a story about rivalry, loss, family, and survival. The characters are [a little too] believable, the setting is stark, and the plot is brutally honest. I couldn't put it down. Just read it.