Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

Nate is a thirteen-year-old boy who feels out of place in his small town, and who dreams of performing on Broadway. He decides that “E.T.: The Broadway Musical Version” is his ticket out of Jankburg, Pennsylvania, and he concocts a plan to go to the auditions all by himself in New York City.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

In this futuristic retelling of Cinderella, Cinder is both a gifted mechanic and a cyborg, living on a plague-ravaged Earth that is threatened by a ruthless lunar queen. She becomes involved with a prince, and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the fate of the world.

Counting by 7s

Willow is a twelve-year-old genius, preoccupied with plants, counting by 7’s, and diagnosing medical conditions. It is difficult for her to relate to people from outside her family, but now she must figure out how to connect with other people and find another family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident.

Golden Boy by Tara Sullivan

Habo is a Tanzanian albino boy who suffers from vicious prejudice for his pale skin, blue eyes, and yellow hair. While seeking refuge, he is hunted by a poacher who wants to kill him and sell his body parts on the black market to superstitious buyers in search of good luck.

I Have a Bad Feeling About This by Jeff Strand

Henry Lambert loves video games and could be described as a bit of a nerd. His father decides to send him off to survival camp in order to toughen him up, but everything the nonathletic sixteen-year old was dreading turns out to be true- and even worse- when criminals show up at camp and survival takes on a whole new meaning for the campers.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

On the Eve of St. Mark’s Day, Blue’s clairvoyant family keeps watch over the churchyard  at night to watch the ghosts of those that will be passing over in the coming year. Blue has never been able to see any of the ghosts, but this year she sees a Raven Boy from Aglionby  Academy named Gansey. This means he is either Blue’s true love or that she will be the one to kill him.

Reboot by Amy Tintera

Seventeen-year-old Wren rises from the dead as a Reboot and is trained as an elite crime fighting soldier until she is given an order she is unable to follow. Her newest trainee Callum’s big heart makes him a huge liability, and Wren is ordered to eliminate him. To save him, Wren will have to risk it all.

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

Wild Chalklings threaten the American Isles and Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense, but Joel can only stand back and watch as students practice the magical art that he would do anything to learn. When Rithmatic students begin disappearing, Joel manages to help in the investigation, and perhaps get another chance at becoming one of them.

Shadow on the Mountain

Swept up by the Norwegian Resistance when Nazi German troops invade his home, 14-year old Espen performs forbidden courier services before becoming a Gestapo-dodging spy. Over the course of five years he loses friends, falls in love, and plots a daring escape on skis over the mountains to Sweden.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Eighteen-year-old assassin Celaenahas served a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes. Prince Dorian offers her an opportunity for early release if she joins the competition to be the King’s Champion, a challenge that is marked by grueling training and the murders of fellow contestants.